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Description

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD43C2 Version 6.1 Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function and Albedo (BRDF/Albedo) Snow-free Model Parameters dataset is produced daily using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS data in a 0.05 degree (5,600 meters at the equator) Climate Modeling Grid (CMG). Data are temporally weighted to the ninth day of the retrieval period which is reflected in the Julian date in the file name. This CMG product covers the entire globe for use in climate simulation models.

Users are urged to use the band specific quality flags to isolate the highest quality full inversion results for their own science applications as described in the User Guide.

MCD43C2 provides the three model weighting parameters (isotropic, volumetric, and geometric) computed from snow-free retrievals. Each model parameter is available as a separate layer for MODIS spectral bands 1 through 7 as well as the visible, near infrared (NIR), and shortwave bands. Along with the 30 parameter layers there are ancillary layers for quality, local solar noon, percent finer resolution inputs, and uncertainty.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to MODIS Version 6.1 BRDF/Albedo Model Parameters data products: (1) Version 6.1 Level-1B (L1B) products have been improved by undergoing various calibration changes that include: changes to the response-versus-scan angle (RVS) approach that affects reflectance bands for Aqua and Terra MODIS, corrections to adjust for the optical crosstalk in Terra MODIS infrared (IR) bands, and corrections to the Terra MODIS forward look-up table (LUT) update for the period 2012 – 2017, and (2) A polarization correction has been applied to the L1B Reflective Solar Bands (RSB).

Product Summary

Platforms
Terra ,
Aqua
Instruments
MODIS
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
5600 Meters x 5600 Meters
Spatial Reference System(s)
MODIS Climate Modeling Grid (CMG)
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2000-02-16 to Present
Temporal Resolution
1 Day
Data Partner
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) ,
School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts, Boston (UMASS-B/SFE) ,
MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/MODAPS)
Concept ID
C2532059394-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
9503
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Albedo ,
Anisotropy ,
Reflectance

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

Schaaf, C., & Wang, Z. (2021). MODIS/Terra+Aqua BRDF/Albedo Snow-free Model Parameters Daily L3 Global 0.05Deg CMG V061 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD43C2.061 Date Accessed: 2026-02-12

File Naming Convention

MCD43C2.A2025211.061.2025220074811.hdf

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MCD43C2) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2025211), the Version of the data collection (061), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025220074811), and the Data Format (hdf).

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT

SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

Publications Citing This Dataset

Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band1 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 1 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band2 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 2 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band3 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 3 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band4 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 4 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band5 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 5 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band6 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_Band7 BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for band 7 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_nir BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for NIR broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_shortwave BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for shortwave broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter1_vis BRDF Albedo isotropic weight for vis broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band1 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band 1 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band2 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band 2 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band3 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band  3 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band4 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band  4 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band5 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band  5 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band6 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band  6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_Band7 BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for band  7 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_nir BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for NIR broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_shortwave BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for shortwave broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter2_vis BRDF Albedo volumeteric weight for vis broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band1 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 1 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band2 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 2 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band3 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 3 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band4 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 4 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band5 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 5 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band6 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_Band7 BRDF Albedo geometric weight for band 7 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_nir BRDF Albedo geometric weight for NIR broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_shortwave BRDF Albedo geometric weight for shortwave broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Parameter3_vis BRDF Albedo geometric weight for vis broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Uncertainty BRDF inversion information N/A uint16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Quality BRDF and albedo quality informatiom N/A uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
Local_Solar_Noon Local solar noon zenith angle Degree uint8 255 0 to 90 N/A
Percent_Inputs Percent finer resolution data which contributed to the CMG Percent uint8 255 0 to 100 N/A
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