VNP43D68: VIIRS White-Sky Albedo for Band M2 Daily Global Climate Grid

Global daily white-sky albedo data at 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution is provided for the VIIRS band M2 (0.445 μm). The dataset is produced daily using a 16-day temporal composite, weighted to the ninth day, and is formatted on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) for climate simulation models. It is part of a larger BRDF/Albedo product suite that includes values for multiple spectral bands and the Day/Night Band.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface radiative forcing in climate simulations based on the Climate Modeling Grid format.
• Analyzing temporal trends in land surface reflectance using the daily, 16-day composite data.
• Studying surface anisotropy and albedo for specific spectral bands, such as the 0.445 μm blue band.
• Integrating white-sky albedo estimates into land surface models that require diffuse illumination conditions.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second spatial resolution.
• Offers daily temporal resolution using a 16-day composite to reduce noise.
• Part of a standardized, long-term NASA/NOAA satellite product suite (Suomi NPP VIIRS).
• Algorithm improvements noted, including enhanced calibration and geolocation accuracy for the entire mission.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided across sources.
• Each product file contains only one data layer due to large file sizes, which may complicate multi-band analysis.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult an external website for complete problem information.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite, VIIRS instrument, processed by LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed through the VNP43D BRDF/Albedo algorithm.

Freshness

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

Geography

Global