VNP43D27: VIIRS BRDF Geometric Parameter for Band M11

Daily 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution data provides the geometric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for VIIRS band M11 (2.25 μm). This product is part of a global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) suite, generated using a 16-day rolling window of observations temporally weighted to the ninth day. The geometric parameter, alongside isotropic and volumetric parameters, is used to derive surface reflectance and albedo values for climate and land surface modeling.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface albedo for climate simulations based on the global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) structure.
• Analyzing land surface anisotropy and reflectance properties using the BRDF geometric parameter for the 2.25 μm spectral band.
• Incorporating daily, temporally smoothed reflectance parameters into time-series analyses of vegetation or surface change.
• Validating and improving land surface models using the algorithm improvements noted, such as enhanced calibration and geolocation.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution.
• Data is produced daily using a 16-day composite to reduce noise, with temporal weighting to the ninth day.
• Algorithm improvements from a previous version include better calibration coefficients and improved geolocation accuracy.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided by any source.
• Each product file contains only a single data layer, which may require combining multiple files for a complete analysis.
• Known issues exist and require referral to an external website for full details, indicating potential data quality caveats.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor.

Collection Method

Produced daily from satellite observations using a BRDF/Albedo model algorithm.

Time Range

Coverage spans the Suomi NPP mission lifetime; specific start date not provided.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-09 according to nasa_earthdata and datagov.

Geography

Global coverage.