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EDG Data Set Name	Granule Shortname
MODIS/Terra+Aqua Albedo 16-Day L3 Global 1km SIN Grid	MCD43B3

Version	Acquisition Range	Science Quality Status
V004	July 4 2002 (2002185)	Validated

Although a Terra/Aqua Albedo product appears similar to a Terra only product (see large images below), it is obvious that the data quality is much enhanced using the Terra/Aqua combination (see small images below).

0.00..............................................................0.25	0.00..............................................................0.25
MCD43B3 is displayed in the top left image, representing shortwave white-sky albedo from Aqua and Terra.  The bottom left image shows the quality associated with the MCD43B3 where: green: highest quality blue: moderate quality red:poorest quality back-up algorithm black: fill values and deep oceans.	MOD43B3 is displayed in the top right image, representing shortwave white-sky albedo from only Terra.  The bottom right image shows the quality associated with the MOD43B3 where: green: highest quality blue: moderate quality red:poorest quality back-up algorithm black: fill values and deep oceans.

Data Set Characteristics
Area = ~ 10° x 10° lat/long
Image Dimensions = 4 (1200x1200x10x2 row/column/band/parameter)
Average File Size = 66 MB
Resolution = 1000 meters
Projection = Sinusoidal
Data Format = HDF-EOS
Science Data Sets (SDSs) = 2

Product Description
Every 16 days, the MODIS BRDF/AlbedoProduct (MCD43B) algorithm relies on multidate, atmospherically corrected, cloud-cleared data and a semiempirical kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance model to determine a global set of parameters describing the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of the land surface. These one kilometer gridded parameters are then used to determine directional hemispherical reflectance ("black-sky albedo"), bihemispherical reflectance ("white-sky albedo"), and nadir BRDF-adjusted reflectance (NBAR) for seven narrow spectral bands and (in the case of albedo) three broad bands. Since the parameters of the simple kernel-based BRDF model (RossThickLiSparseR) are also provided, along with extensive quality information, the MODIS BRDF/Albedo Product offers members of the global remote sensing and modeling community the additional flexibility to derive reflectance and albedo measures particularly suited to their specific applications.

MCD43B is a MODLAND Level 3 Product and is provided globally as discrete 1200 by 1200 element tiles in a Sinusoidal Grid projection in a HDF-EOS format. MCD43B1 provides the primary BRDF model parameters. MCD43B3 provides the black-sky albedo (at the mean solar zenith angle at local solar noon) and the white-sky albedo. MCD43B4 provides two NBAR values, one at the mean solar zenith angle of Terra overpasses during the 16-day period and the other at the mean solar zenith angle of the Aqua overpasses. Quality information is replicated and available with each quantity.

MCD products are generated using a combination of Terra and Aqua acquisitions to optimize data quality.

Note: These products are validated, meaning that product uncertainties are well defined over a range of representative conditions. Although there may be later improved versions, these data are ready for use in scientific publications.

SDS	Units	Data Type-bit	Fill Value	Valid Range	Multiply by Scale Factor	Dimensions
Albedo	Albedo	16-bit signed integer	32767	0 - 32766	0.001	1D X-Dim 2D Y-Dim 3D#Land Bands+3 4D#Albedos(blacksky followed by whitesky)
*BRDF_Albedo_ Quality	Concatenated Flags	32-bit unsigned integer	4294967295	0 - 4294967294	na	1D X-Dim 2D Y-Dim 3D # QC Words

*MODIS BRDF/Albedo QA Science Data Sets

View a Version Formatted for Printing

Retrieve the MCD43B3v4 MODIS product through the LP DAAC Data Pool
Via Search Tool: http://e4eil01u.ecs.nasa.gov:22000/WebAccess/drill?attrib=esdt&esdt=MCD43B3.4&group=MOTA
Via FTP Directory: ftp://e4ftl01u.ecs.nasa.gov/MOTA/MCD43B3.004/

Order These Data through the EOS Data Gateway
MODIS/TERRA+AQUA ALBEDO 16-DAY L3 GLOBAL 1KM SIN GRID V004

EOS Data Gateway Search Tips

Source:	Terra or Aqua
Sensor:	MODIS
Dataset:	MODIS/Terra+Aqua Albedo 16-Day L3 Global 1km SIN Grid
Spatial:	HORIZONTALTILENUMBER Max/Min VERTICALTILENUMBER Max/Min
Geographic Extent:	Type Lat/Long Range or Draw on Map
Temporal Extent:	2002-07-04 to present

Product Information

Product Description (http://landval.gsfc.nasa.gov/MODLAND/brdf.htm)

User Guide (http://www-modis.bu.edu/brdf/userguide/index.html)

Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) (http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/atbd/land_atbd.php)

MODIS Standard Data Products Catalog (http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/dataprod/index.php)

EOS Data Products Handbook Volume 2 (2000) (http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_scientists/data_products/vol2.php)

Contact Information

LP DAAC User Services U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS) 47914 252nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57198-0001
Phone:	605-594-6116
Toll Free:	866-573-3222
	866-LPE-DAAC
Fax:	605-594-6963
Email:	LPDAAC@eos.nasa.gov
Web:	http://LPDAAC.usgs.gov

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