VNP43D72: VIIRS White-Sky Albedo for Band M7 Daily Global Climate Grid

VIIRS/NPP VNP43D72 provides daily, global white-sky albedo measurements for the 0.865 μm spectral band at a 1,000-meter resolution, specifically formatted for climate simulation models. Each daily file synthesizes 16 days of satellite observations, temporally weighted to represent the ninth day, and is part of a larger suite of albedo products covering multiple spectral bands. This Version 1 product was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2025, with users directed to updated Version 2 data products.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing land surface albedo in climate simulation models based on the Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Analyzing temporal changes in surface reflectance for Band M7 (0.865 μm) using the 16-day composite daily time series.
• Comparing white-sky albedo (bihemispherical reflectance) with black-sky albedo values from the broader VNP43D product suite.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution.
• Data is produced daily using a 16-day composite window, offering a balance between temporal frequency and observation density.
• Specifically designed for use in climate models, indicated by its Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) structure.

Limitations

• This is a decommissioned Version 1 product; the authoritative sources state it should no longer be used for new work.
• Metadata on row count, file size, and specific data columns is unavailable or conflicting across platforms.
• The product documentation notes a known issue with abnormally high activation of a high aerosol flag in Collection 1.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Derived from Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model using 16 days of observations.

Time Range

Daily production; temporal coverage is not explicitly stated but likely spans the Suomi NPP mission.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:14:57.364405

Geography

Global coverage.