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Albedo Data Access and Tools

NASA has snow and ice albedo datasets that help researchers measure how much frozen surfaces reflect solar radiation. Access a range of data and data tools such as AppEEARS, Worldview, and Giovanni to make the most of snow and ice albedo data.

Albedo Datasets

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Dataset Version Platforms Instruments Temporal Extent Spatial Extent Spatial Resolution Data Format
CERES Clouds and Radiative Swath TRMM Edition2C Edition2C TRMM CERES-PFM 1998-01-01 to 2000-03-31 HDF4
MODIS/Aqua Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500m SIN Grid V061 61 Aqua MODIS 2002-07-04 to Present

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

500 Meters x 500 Meters HDF-EOS2
MODIS/Terra Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500m SIN Grid V061 61 Terra MODIS 2000-02-24 to Present

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

500 Meters x 500 Meters HDF-EOS2
MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_glc_Nx: 2d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Ice Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TMNXGLC) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

MERRA-2 tavg3_2d_glc_Nx: 2d,3-Hourly,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Ice Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2T3NXGLC) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

MERRA-2 tavgU_2d_glc_Nx: 2d,diurnal,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Ice Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TUNXGLC) at GES DISC 5.12.4 MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present

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

High Mountain Asia COAWST 6-Hourly 4km Regional Climate Model Simulations V001 1 MODELS NOT APPLICABLE 1999-10-01 to 2014-10-01

N: 46.34996 S: 20.96392 E: 120.8316 W: 49.1684

4 Kilometers x 4 Kilometers netCDF-3
High Mountain Asia COAWST Hourly 4km Regional Climate Model Simulations V001 1 MODELS NOT APPLICABLE 1999-10-01 to 2014-10-01

N: 46.34996 S: 20.96392 E: 120.8316 W: 49.1684

4 Kilometers x 4 Kilometers netCDF-3
High Mountain Asia COAWST Monthly 4km Regional Climate Model Simulations V001 1 MODELS NOT APPLICABLE 1999-10-01 to 2014-09-30

N: 46.34996 S: 20.96392 E: 120.8316 W: 49.1684

4 Kilometers x 4 Kilometers netCDF-4
High Mountain Asia UCLA Daily Snow Reanalysis V001 1 LANDSAT-5, LANDSAT-7, LANDSAT-8, Terra TM, ETM+, OLI, MODIS 1999-10-01 to 2017-09-30

N: 45 S: 27 E: 105 W: 60

netCDF-4
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Featured Snow/Ice Albedo Observation Method: MODIS
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) gathers data in 36 spectral channels and can survey the entire Earth every one to two days. The instrument flies aboard NASA's Aqua and and Terra platforms. MODIS data can be used for a broad range of Earth science observations, including surveys of snow and ice cover across the planet with resolutions ranging from 250 to 1000 meters.
Learn More About MODIS
Earthdata grphic identifier on ice sheet map

MODIS Near Real-Time Data

Near real-time data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments are available through NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE).
True color corrected reflectance image of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the VIIRS instrument aboard the NOAA-21 satellite

From MODIS to VIIRS: Continuing the Legacy

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will help ensure continuity of Earth observations after the upcoming retirement of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).

Albedo Data Tools

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