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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 M11 product (VNP43D27) 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).

VNP43D27 is the BRDF geometric parameter for VIIRS band M11 (2.25 μm). The geometric parameter, in conjunction with the isotropic and volumetric parameters, is used to derive the BRDF/Albedo values for VIIRS band M11.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following modifications and enhancements were implemented for Suomi NPP Version 2 BRDF and albedo parameter 3 and band M11 data products: (1) Improved calibration algorithm and better coefficients for entire Suomi NPP mission, (2) Improved geolocation accuracy and updates to fix outliers around maneuver periods and other events, (3) 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, (4) Improved cloud mask input product for corrections along coastlines and artifacts from use of coarse resolution climatology data, (5) Replaced the land/water mask input product with MODIS heritage seven class land/water mask. Further details can be found in the VIIRS Land V2 Changes document (https://landweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/data/userguide/VIIRS_Land_C2_Cha…).

Product Summary

Platforms
Suomi-NPP
Instruments
VIIRS
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
1000 Meters x 1000 Meters
Location
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
C2848537034-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
5133
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., Erb, A., & Paynter, I. (2025). VIIRS/NPP BRDF/Albedo Parameter 3 Band M11 Daily L3 Global 30ArcSec CMG V002 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/VNP43D27.002 Date Accessed: 2026-02-16

File Naming Convention

VNP43D27.A2025215.002.2025224210808.h5

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (VNP43D27) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2025215), the Version of the data collection (002), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025224210808), and the Data Format (h5).

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT

SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

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_Parameter3_M11 BRDF model parameter for geo kernel of Band M11 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
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