VNP43D29: VIIRS BRDF Volumetric Parameter for Visible Broadband

VNP43D29 Version 1 is a decommissioned NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP VIIRS data product providing the volumetric model parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo for the visible broadband (0.64 μm). It is produced daily using a 16-day temporal composite, weighted to the ninth day, and is projected on a global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) at 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution. The volumetric parameter, alongside isotropic and geometric parameters, is used to derive BRDF and albedo values for climate and land surface modeling.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface albedo for climate simulations based on the global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Analyzing surface anisotropy and reflectance properties using the BRDF volumetric parameter for the VIIRS visible broadband.
• Incorporating temporally composited surface data into time-series studies of radiative forcing, leveraging the 16-day rolling composite.
• Deriving complete BRDF values for the visible spectrum by combining this volumetric parameter with isotropic and geometric parameters from the VNP43D product suite.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid designed for climate simulation models.
• Offers a specific, high-level model parameter (volumetric) for BRDF/albedo derivation at a consistent 30 arc second spatial resolution.
• Maintains a daily production cycle with a 16-day temporal composite, providing a stable, weighted data product.

Limitations

• This Version 1 product was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2025, and users are directed to newer Version 2 products.
• Metadata is incomplete: column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided across all sources.
• The product is noted to be affected by known issues from upstream data processing, specifically an abnormally high aerosol flag activation.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP VIIRS sensor, processed by LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed through the VNP43 BRDF/Albedo algorithm.

Time Range

Daily production using a rolling 16-day composite; specific date range not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:41:31.444489

Geography

Global coverage.