The MODIS/Aqua Cloud Properties 5-min L2 Swath 1km product is designed to facilitate continuity in cloud properties between the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on the Aqua and Terra platforms and the series of VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instruments, beginning with the Suomi NPP spacecraft. To establish continuity, this MODIS Cloud Properties product does not use algorithms identical to those used in the standard MODIS product (MOD06/MYD06). The product consists of cloud optical and physical parameters derived using observations in visible through infrared spectral channels. MODIS infrared channels that are common with VIIRS are primarily used to derive cloud-top temperature, cloud-top height, effective emissivity, an infrared cloud phase product (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque), and cloud fraction under both daytime and nighttime conditions. The MODIS solar reflectances channels are primarily used to derive cloud optical thickness, particle effective radius, water path, and to inform the phase used in the optical retrievals. The MODIS Cloud Properties product is a Level-2 product generated at 1 km (at nadir) spatial resolution.

The current version-1.1 of the Level-2 CLDPROP product collection is corrected to address an issue with the cloud optical properties’ thermodynamic phase that caused erroneous liquid water cloud phase results.