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Description

The Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NASA Level-3 (L3) daily Cloud Properties is one of two continuity products designed to sustain the long-term records of both MODIS and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) heritages. CLDPROP_D3_MODIS_Aqua is the shortname for the Aqua MODIS incarnation of the daily Cloud Properties continuity product. CLDPROP is used to represent Cloud Properties, which includes both Cloud-Optical Property (COP) and Cloud-Top Property parameters. “D3” refers to a daily-produced L3 product. This product ensures continuity of approach through a common algorithm that is applicable to both MODIS and VIIRS data by leveraging only those spectral channels that are common to both instruments.

The L3 Cloud Properties product is derived from the Aqua/MODIS L2 Cloud Properties product (CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua), which is a swath-level dataset that is produced every 5 minutes. It contains 128 science data sets (SDS/parameters) that comprise 837 variables (statistics). The number of science parameters broadly breakdown thus:

  • Cloud-Top Properties: 21
  • Cloud-Optical Properties: 103
  • Solar and Sensor Angles: 4

Each science parameter includes a combination of the following statistical variables:

  • Mean, Standard Deviation, Pixel Count, Sum, and Sum Squares
  • Parameters of log-normal distributions
  • Fraction of pixels that satisfy some condition (e.g., liquid water clouds, ice clouds, etc.)
  • Histograms of the sampled Level-2 pixels within each grid-cell
  • Joint histograms that are derived by comparing one science parameter to another; this may also involve computing statistics for a subset that satisfies some condition.

Consult the L3 CLDPROP User Guide for details regarding how the L3 daily statistics are computed, and to learn more about the gridding and sampling protocols specific to this product besides a number of other topics germane to the user community. Each calendar year includes 365 granules. The version 1.1 collection of this product starts from March 1, 2012 (Julian day 061).

Version Description

Version 1.1 Data

Product Summary

Platforms
Aqua
Instruments
MODIS
Projects
Aqua
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
GEODETIC
Temporal Extent
2002-07-04 to Present
Data Partner
Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison (UWI-MAD/SSEC) ,
L1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System,Biospheric Information Systems Branch, Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/H
Concept ID
C1655784008-LAADS
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
8787
Processing Level
3
Published
Science Keywords
Clouds ,
Cloud Properties ,
Cloud Fraction ,
Cloud Frequency ,
Cloud Height ,
Cloud Top Height ,
Cloud Top Temperature ,
Cloud Emissivity ,
Infrared Radiance ,
REFLECTED INFRARED ,
Visible Radiance

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

VIIRS Atmosphere Science Team SSEC University Of Wisconsin-Madison. (2019). MODIS/Aqua Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid [Dataset]. NASA Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/CLDPROP_D3_MODIS_AQUA.011 Date Accessed: 2026-09-09

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