VNP43D09: VIIRS BRDF Geometric Parameter for Band M3

30 arc-second resolution data provides the geometric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for VIIRS band M3 (0.488 μm). This daily product is generated using a 16-day rolling window of observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day, and is formatted on a global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG). It is part of a larger suite of 39 separate files, each containing a single model parameter for different spectral bands.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface albedo for climate simulations based on the BRDF geometric parameter.
• Analyzing temporal changes in surface reflectance anisotropy using the 16-day composite data.
• Integrating with isotropic and volumetric parameters to derive full BRDF values for VIIRS band M3.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) suitable for climate models.
• Offers a specific, high-resolution (30 arc-second, ~1km) data layer for a key VIIRS spectral band.
• Is part of a systematically produced, multi-parameter suite (VNP43D01-VNP43D39) from a major satellite mission (Suomi NPP).

Limitations

• This Version 1 product was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2025, directing users to newer versions.
• Metadata on specific columns, row counts, and file sizes is unavailable across all sources.
• A known issue with high aerosol flag activation in upstream data reduces the number of acceptable observations used as input.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Produced daily from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) observations using a BRDF/Albedo model.

Time Range

Daily production, but specific start and end dates for Version 1 are not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:41:12.943702 (last update noted on datagov, but for a decommissioned product)

Geography

Global