VIIRS Cloud Properties: Optical and Physical Parameters at 750m

The dataset provides a continuous record of cloud properties derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on the Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellites. It contains Level-2 orbital swath data at 750-meter nadir resolution, including cloud optical thickness, particle effective radius, water path, cloud top temperature, height, and phase. This product is designed to ensure continuity with the long-term MODIS cloud property heritage.

Use Cases

• Analyzing cloud radiative forcing based on cloud optical thickness and effective emissivity.
• Tracking diurnal and seasonal cloud phase changes using the infrared cloud phase product.
• Validating climate model cloud parameterizations with cloud top height and temperature measurements.
• Studying aerosol-cloud interactions by correlating particle effective radius with other atmospheric datasets.

Strengths

• Provides continuity with the long-term MODIS cloud record, supporting climate trend analysis.
• Offers high spatial resolution of 750 meters at nadir for detailed cloud feature analysis.
• Includes both daytime and nighttime retrievals for comprehensive diurnal cycle studies.
• Version 1.1 corrects a known issue with erroneous liquid water cloud phase results.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, column names, and exact file sizes are not provided across platforms.
• The dataset's temporal coverage (start/end dates) is not explicitly stated in the provided input.
• Relies on inferred column names and data types from product descriptions rather than explicit schemas.

Provenance

Source

LAADS (Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive & Distribution System)

Collection Method

Derived from spectral channel observations (visible through infrared) from the VIIRS instruments on the Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellites.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-09 according to two platform entries.

Geography

Global coverage from polar-orbiting satellite swaths.