The Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2)* Visible Infra-red Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) surface reflectance products provide estimates of surface reflectance derived from each of the twelve VIIRS reflective bands. Surface reflectance is derived by adjusting top-of-atmosphere reflectance to compensate for atmospheric effects. The effects of molecular gases, including ozone and water vapor, and atmospheric aerosols are also corrected. The VIIRS Level 1B (L1B) top-of-atmosphere calibrated instrument data, following corrections to address atmospheric gases and aerosols, help produce the Level 2 (L2) product. These L2 inputs help generate additional higher-level gridded products.

VJ209 is the short name for the L2 orbital swath-based atmospherically corrected surface reflectance product generated daily at 375-meter and 750-meter resolutions. VJ209 contains approximately 6 minutes of data yielding 240 granules in a 24-hour cycle.

*<b>Note:</b> JPSS-2 was renamed NOAA-21 after launch.

VJ209 offers surface reflectance values for the following resolutions and bands:

• 375-meter resolution: Bands I1, I2, and I3
• 750-meter resolution: Moderate (M) Bands M1-M5, M7, M8, M10, and M11

The inputs to the surface reflectance algorithm include top-of-atmosphere reflectance derived from the VIIRS I-bands and M-bands, VIIRS Cloud Mask (VJ235_L2), VIIRS Aerosol Optical Thickness (VJ204_L2), Aerosol Model Information (VJ2AMI_L2), VIIRS Geolocation (VJ203IMG), and atmospheric data from NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) reanalysis (surface pressure, atmospheric precipitable water, and ozone concentration). All surface reflectance products are generated under all atmospheric conditions for daytime only; nighttime and ocean observations are excluded. Reflectance values when not produced, are replaced by fill-values in the L2 products and are excluded in the Level 3 (L3) products.

The version 2.0 (v2.0) Surface Reflectance products are validated to Stage 3; this means that the uncertainties in this product are well-quantified through comparison with both in situ and other reference data. These uncertainties are characterized in a statistically rigorous manner over multiple global locations and time periods. The spatial and temporal consistency of this product has also been evaluated over a set of globally representative locations and time periods. The v2.0 VJ209 collection’s record starts from February 10, 2023 (2023–041).