Skip to main content

Description

The NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo Model Parameter 3 Band M1 product (VNP43D03) is produced daily using 16 days of data at 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution. Data are temporally weighted to the ninth day, which is reflected in the file name. The VNP43D product suite is provided in a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG), which covers the entire globe for use in climate simulation models. Due to the large file size, each VNP43D product contains just one data layer. Each of the three model parameters (isotropic, volumetric, and geometric) for each of the nine VIIRS moderate resolution bands along with the visible, near-infrared (NIR), and shortwave bands included in the VNP43MA1 product is stored in a separate file as VNP43D01 through VNP43D36. In addition to the bands included in VNP43MA1, this product suite includes model parameters for the VIIRS Day/Night Band (DNB) as VNP43D37 through VNP43D39. Details regarding methodology are available on the VNP43MA1 product page and in the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

VNP43D03 is the BRDF geometric parameter for VIIRS band M1 (0.412 μm). The geometric parameter, in conjunction with the isotropic and volumetric parameters, is used to derive the BRDF/Albedo values for VIIRS band M1.

Known Issues

Improvements/Changes from Previous Version

  • Improved calibration algorithm and better coefficients for entire Suomi NPP mission.
  • Improved geolocation accuracy and updates to fix outliers around maneuver periods and other events.
  • Corrections to the aerosol quantity flag (low, average, high) mainly over brighter surfaces in the mid to high latitudes such as desert and tropical vegetation areas. This has an impact on the retrieval of other downstream data products such as VNP13 Vegetation Indices and VNP43 BRDF/Albedo.
  • Improved cloud mask input product for corrections along coastlines and artifacts from use of coarse resolution climatology data.
  • Replaced the land/water mask input product with MODIS heritage seven class land/water mask.

Product Summary

Platforms
Suomi-NPP
Instruments
VIIRS
Spatial Extent
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180
Spatial Resolution
1000 Meters x 1000 Meters
Geographic Region
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2012-01-19 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)
Land Science Investigator-led Processing System, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Sciences and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/LandSIPS)
Concept ID
c2847920045-lpcloud
Data State
ACTIVE
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated

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., Erb, A., & Paynter, I. (2025). VIIRS/NPP BRDF/Albedo Parameter 3 Band M1 Daily L3 Global 30ArcSec CMG V002 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/VNP43D03.002 Date Accessed: 2025-07-10

Data Center Citation

Crystal Schaaf, Zhuosen Wang, Angela Erb, Ian Paynter . 2025. VIIRS/NPP BRDF/Albedo Parameter 3 Band M1 Daily L3 Global 30 ArcSec CMG V002. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA: NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/VNP43D03.002.

Documents

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD) The ATBD provides physical theory and mathematical procedures for the calculations used to produce the data products.
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION The File Specification provides a description of the product file including Scientific Data Sets and their attributes.
PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT The LDOPE Land Product Quality Assessment website provides known issues, maneuvers, and product quality of the land products.
SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION Validation at stage 3 has been achieved for the VIIRS BRDF/Albedo product suite.
SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION Further details regarding VIIRS product validation and maturity status are available from VIIRS Land Product Quality Assessment site.

Learning Resources

View All Learning Resources
Filters
No Results