VNP43D42: VIIRS Valid Observation Quality for Band M1

Daily global data product from the Suomi NPP VIIRS sensor, providing a valid observation quality layer for band M1. It is generated using 16 days of data at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution, temporally weighted to the ninth day, and formatted on a Climate Modeling Grid. The dataset is part of a suite for characterizing surface anisotropy and is now succeeded by Version 2 products.

Use Cases

• Assessing input data quality for BRDF and albedo model inversions based on the valid observation layer.
• Monitoring temporal changes in surface reflectance conditions using the 16-day rolling composite.
• Supporting climate simulation models with globally consistent, 1km resolution geospatial data on the CMG.
• Investigating aerosol impacts on surface retrievals, particularly over arid bright surfaces, as noted in known issues.

Strengths

• Provides daily, global coverage on a standardized Climate Modeling Grid.
• Offers a specific data layer (valid observation quality) derived from a 16-day composite for temporal consistency.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA Earthdata and Data.gov signals its importance and curation.

Limitations

• The Version 1 product was decommissioned on July 31, 2025, limiting its current utility.
• Metadata is incomplete: specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided.
• Known issues exist, such as reduced high-quality inversions due to aerosol flag artifacts in Collection 1 inputs.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing, processed through the VNP43 algorithm suite.

Time Range

Daily production, but specific historical range is not provided.

Freshness

Last updated metadata dates conflict between 2025-02-01 and 2026-04-09.

Geography

Global