VNP43C4: Daily Global Nadir-Adjusted Surface Reflectance for Climate Models

NASA/NOAA's Suomi NPP VIIRS VNP43C4 product provides daily, global Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) at a 0.05-degree resolution. The dataset uses a 16-day moving window of high-quality reflectance data and the RTLSR BRDF model to correct for view angle effects, simulating a nadir view at local solar noon. It includes NBAR values for 10 spectral bands plus ancillary layers for uncertainty, quality, and snow cover.

Use Cases

• Climate simulation modeling based on the 0.05-degree Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) global coverage.
• Land surface anisotropy and albedo studies based on the BRDF-adjusted reflectance layers.
• Monitoring snow cover dynamics based on the ancillary snow cover percentage layer.
• Assessing data quality for downstream applications based on the provided uncertainty and quality assurance layers.

Strengths

• Provides global daily coverage at a consistent 0.05-degree (approx. 5,600m) resolution for climate models.
• Includes 10 spectral bands (DNB, M1-M5, M7, M8, M10, M11) with BRDF correction, plus 5 ancillary data layers.
• Employs a documented, peer-reviewed algorithm (RTLSR BRDF model) over a 16-day moving window for temporal stability.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: no row/column count, file size, or explicit temporal coverage range provided.
• Platforms show conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-03-12 and 2026-04 09), suggesting potential metadata errors.
• Users must rely on quality flags, as the product is derived from underlying pixels with variable inversion status and snow cover.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Derived from the VIIRS VNP43D Version 2 product suite using the VNP43 algorithm.

Time Range

Daily generation, but specific start date for the time series is not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:43:40.256268

Geography

Global