VNP43D33: VIIRS NIR BRDF Geometric Parameter Daily Global 1km

Daily global data at 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution, produced using a 16-day rolling window temporally weighted to the ninth day. This dataset provides the geometric model parameter for the VIIRS near-infrared broadband (0.865 μm), which is part of a suite of 39 files used to derive Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and albedo values. It is formatted in a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) covering the entire globe for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Calibrating or validating climate models based on the provided Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Deriving surface albedo for the NIR broadband by combining this geometric parameter with isotropic and volumetric parameters.
• Analyzing temporal changes in land surface anisotropy using the daily, 16-day composite data product.
• Studying global land surface radiative properties for the 0.865 μm spectral band.

Strengths

• Provides a specific, critical model parameter (geometric) for BRDF/albedo derivation at a consistent 1km global scale.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA/Data.gov indicates established importance and official curation.
• Product improvements noted include an improved calibration algorithm and better geolocation accuracy for the entire Suomi NPP mission.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: column names, row counts, and exact file sizes are unknown across all sources.
• Each file contains only one data layer, requiring combination with other VNP43D files for a complete BRDF model.
• The 'last updated' dates on Data.gov (2026-03-12, 2026-04-09) are implausibly future-dated, indicating potential metadata errors.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Produced from the Suomi NPP satellite's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor.

Time Range

Daily production, utilizing a rolling 16-day data window.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:17:01.361381

Geography

Global coverage.