VNP43D16: VIIRS BRDF Isotropic Parameter for Band M7

NASA/NOAA's VNP43D16 Version 1 provided the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) isotropic model parameter for the Suomi NPP VIIRS satellite's band M7 (0.865 μm). This daily, global product was generated at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) Climate Modeling Grid resolution, using a 16-day data window weighted to the ninth day. The parameter was used in conjunction with volumetric and geometric parameters to derive surface BRDF and albedo values, but the product was decommissioned on July 31, 2025.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface anisotropy for climate simulations based on the BRDF isotropic parameter.
• Deriving surface albedo for the 0.865 μm wavelength using the combined isotropic, volumetric, and geometric parameters.
• Analyzing temporal changes in surface reflectance properties using the daily, 16-day composite time series.
• Inputting pre-processed BRDF parameters into global climate models that use the 1km Climate Modeling Grid.

Strengths

• Provides a specific, physically-based model parameter (isotropic) for a key VIIRS band at a consistent 1km global resolution.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA EarthData signals its importance and official provenance from NASA.
• Product documentation references a detailed Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) for methodological transparency.

Limitations

• The dataset is deprecated (decommissioned July 31, 2025), directing users to newer Version 2 products.
• Known data quality issue: the upstream VNP09 product's high aerosol flag abnormally reduced the number of acceptable observations used as input.
• Metadata for size, row count, and specific columns is unavailable across all sources.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Suomi NPP satellite.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), processed through a BRDF/albedo modeling algorithm.

Freshness

Last updated metadata on 2026-04-09, but the data product itself is decommissioned.

Geography

Global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG).