VNP43D36: VIIRS Shortwave BRDF Geometric Parameter Daily Global Climate Grid

Daily global data from the Suomi NPP VIIRS satellite provides the geometric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for the shortwave broadband (1.61 μm). This product is part of a suite of model parameters generated at 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) covering the entire globe, using a 16-day rolling window temporally weighted to the ninth day. The geometric parameter, alongside isotropic and volumetric parameters, is used to derive surface albedo and anisotropy for climate simulation and land surface monitoring.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface albedo for climate simulations based on the BRDF geometric parameter for the shortwave broadband.
• Analyzing temporal changes in surface anisotropy using the daily, 16-day composite data on a global Climate Modeling Grid.
• Integrating VIIRS-derived BRDF parameters with other geospatial datasets for Earth system modeling.
• Assessing the impact of aerosol contamination on BRDF/albedo retrievals, referencing known issues with the high aerosol flag.

Strengths

• Provides a single, focused data layer (the geometric parameter) for the shortwave broadband, facilitating integration into models.
• Offers daily, global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution on a Climate Modeling Grid.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA Earthdata and Data.gov signals its importance and established use in the scientific community.

Limitations

• The dataset (Version 1) was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2025, directing users to newer Version 2 products.
• Metadata completeness is low: column names, row counts, file sizes, and specific authors are not provided across sources.
• Known issues exist, such as reduced data quality due to the abnormal activation of a high aerosol flag in upstream processing.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). Organization listed as LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed through the VNP43 BRDF/Albedo algorithm, with methodology detailed in the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

Time Range

Daily production using a 16-day data window. Specific start and end dates are not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:16:49.780396

Geography

Global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG).