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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
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platform | Instrument | 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 | ||
| 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 Daily 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 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 | |
| ISLSCP II ECMWF Near-Surface Meteorology Parameters | 1 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1985-01-01 to 1998-12-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
ASCII Grid | |
| 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 |
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees | |
| 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 |
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees | |
| 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 |
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees | |
| MODIS/Aqua Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500m SIN Grid V005 | 5 | Aqua | MODIS | 2002-07-04 to 2017-01-01 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
500 Meters x 500 Meters | HDF-EOS2 |
| MODIS/Aqua Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500m SIN Grid V006 | 6 | Aqua | MODIS | 2002-07-04 to 2023-02-25 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
500 Meters x 500 Meters | HDF-EOS2 |
| 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 V005 | 5 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to 2017-01-02 |
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 V006 | 6 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-02-24 to 2023-02-17 |
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 |
| Multilayer Greenland Ice Surface Temperature, Surface Albedo, and Water Vapor from MODIS V001 | 1 | Terra | MODIS | 2000-03-01 to 2021-08-31 |
N: 84 S: 58 E: 12 W: -94 |
0.78 Kilometers x 0.78 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| SnowEx23 Apr23 Spectrometer Snow Surface Reflectance and Albedo, Version 1 V001 | 1 | GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS | SPECTRORADIOMETERS | 2023-04-05 to 2023-05-05 |
N: 65.16127 S: 63.86191 E: -145.7231 W: -147.7298 |
CSV |
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.
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).
Image captured on 29 December 2019, by the VIIRS instrument, aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite.
Join us to learn how to discover, subset, access and visualize both MODIS and VIIRS data products using a suite of user-friendly tools developed by NASA's ORNL DAAC.
Frequently Asked Questions
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