VIIRS Daily BRDF Model Parameters for Global Albedo Estimation

BRDF/Albedo model parameters provide a 1 km resolution global daily snapshot of land surface radiative properties. The dataset contains 24 Science Dataset layers, including mandatory quality bands and three model parameters (fiso, fvol, fgeo) for multiple VIIRS spectral bands. It is produced by the LANCEMODIS organization using a 16-day rolling window of VIIRS/NPP satellite data and the RTLSR kernel-driven model.

Use Cases

• Correcting directional reflectance in satellite imagery to a common view geometry using the fiso, fvol, and fgeo parameters.
• Estimating black-sky albedo at any solar illumination angle via polynomial application to the BRDF model parameters.
• Calculating instantaneous actual (blue-sky) albedo by combining the provided black-sky and white-sky albedo layers.
• Assessing land surface anisotropy and reflectance changes over time across VIIRS bands M1-M5, M7-M8, and M10-M11.
• Validating and improving land surface models using globally consistent, daily albedo-related parameters.

Strengths

• Provides daily global coverage at 1 km spatial resolution, enabling high-frequency surface monitoring.
• Based on a well-documented RTLSR semi-empirical model with methodology detailed in a public Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
• Contains 24 specific data layers, including three core model parameters for multiple spectral bands, facilitating detailed analysis.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA EarthData and Data.gov signals its importance and reliability for the scientific community.

Limitations

• Precise row count, total size, and specific column names are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on license details: one specifies 'other-license-specified', while another lists 'None'.
• Data is produced using a 16-day rolling window, meaning each daily product is not based solely on that day's observations.

Provenance

Source

LANCEMODIS organization, utilizing VIIRS/NPP satellite sensor data.

Collection Method

Produced daily using a 16-day data window and the RossThick/Li-Sparse-Reciprocal (RTLSR) kernel-driven BRDF model.

Time Range

Daily production; specific start date not provided.

Freshness

2026-03-12 19:58:21.457909

Geography

Global coverage on a 1 km SIN Grid.