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Description

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD43A3 Version 6.1 Albedo Model dataset is produced daily using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS data at 500 meter (m) resolution. Data are temporally weighted to the ninth day of the 16 day which is reflected in the Julian date in the file name.

Users are urged to use the band specific quality flags to isolate the highest quality full inversion results for their own science applications as described in the User Guide.

The MCD43A3 provides black-sky albedo (directional hemispherical reflectance) and white-sky albedo (bihemispherical reflectance) data at local solar noon for MODIS bands 1 through 7 and the visible, near infrared (NIR), and shortwave bands. Along with the albedo layers are the simplified mandatory quality layers for each of the 10 bands. Essential quality information provided in the corresponding MCD43A2 data file should be consulted when using this product.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to MODIS Version 6.1 BRDF/Albedo Model Parameters data products: (1) Version 6.1 Level-1B (L1B) products have been improved by undergoing various calibration changes that include: changes to the response-versus-scan angle (RVS) approach that affects reflectance bands for Aqua and Terra MODIS, corrections to adjust for the optical crosstalk in Terra MODIS infrared (IR) bands, and corrections to the Terra MODIS forward look-up table (LUT) update for the period 2012 – 2017, and (2) A polarization correction has been applied to the L1B Reflective Solar Bands (RSB).

Product Summary

Platforms
Terra ,
Aqua
Instruments
MODIS
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
500 Meters x 500 Meters
Geographic Region
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
GEODETIC
Temporal Extent
2000-02-16 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) ,
MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/MODAPS)
Concept ID
C2278860820-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
2904866
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Albedo ,
Anisotropy

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. (2021). MODIS/Terra+Aqua BRDF/Albedo Daily L3 Global - 500m V061 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD43A3.061 Date Accessed: 2025-12-14

File Naming Convention

MCD43A3.A2025212.h11v12.061.2025221032740.hdf

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MCD43A3) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2025212), the Tile Identifier which is horizontal tile and vertical tile provided as hXXvYY (h11v12), the Version of the data collection (061), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025221032740), and the Data Format (hdf).

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT

SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author
An integrated assessment on the warming effects of urbanization and agriculture in highly developed urban agglomerations of China Yan, Z.
Airborne measurements of surface albedo and leaf area index of snow-covered boreal forest Manninen, T.
Examining the role of environmental memory in the predictability of carbon and water fluxes across Australian ecosystems Page, J. C.
Global estimation of clear-sky shortwave aerosol direct radiative effects based on CALIPSO observations Shi, Z.
Effect of the partitioning of diffuse and direct APAR on GPP estimation Chen, S. Y.
Albedo-Induced global warming impact at multiple temporal scales within an Upper Midwest USA watershed Sciusco, P.
Heat wave-induced augmentation of surface urban heat islands strongly regulated by rural background Miao, S.
Unexplored Antarctic meteorite collection sites revealed through machine learning Tollenaar, V.
Enhanced spring warming in a Mediterranean mountain by atmospheric circulation Bruley, E.
Analysis of spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of desertification in the Africa Sahel Yang, Z.
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Variables

Variables are a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something. For example, temperature and pressure are variables of the atmosphere. Parameters and variables can be used interchangeably. Variable level attributes provide individual information for each variable.

The Name in this table is the variable name. Fill value indicates missing or undefined data points in a variable. Valid range is the range of values the variable can store. Scale factor is used to increase or decrease the size of an object and can be used to correct for distortion. For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor
Albedo_BSA_Band1 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 1 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band2 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 2 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band3 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 3 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band4 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 4 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band5 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 5 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band6 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_Band7 Black-Sky Albedo for Band 6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_nir Black-Sky Albedo for NIR broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_shortwave Black-Sky Albedo for shortwave broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_BSA_vis Black-Sky Albedo for vis broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band1 White-Sky Albedo for Band 1 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band2 White-Sky Albedo for Band 2 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band3 White-Sky Albedo for Band 3 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band4 White-Sky Albedo for Band 4 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band5 White-Sky Albedo for Band 5 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band6 White-Sky Albedo for Band 6 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_Band7 White-Sky Albedo for Band 7 N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_nir White-Sky Albedo for NIR broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_shortwave White-Sky Albedo for shortwave broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
Albedo_WSA_vis White-Sky Albedo for vis broadband N/A int16 32767 0 to 32766 0.001
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band1 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 1 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band2 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 2 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band3 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 3 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band4 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 4 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band5 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 5 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band6 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 6 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band7 BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for Band 7 Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_nir BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for NIR broadband Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_shortwave BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for shortwave broadband Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_vis BRDF Albedo Mandatory Quality for vis broadband Bit Field uint8 255 0 to 254 N/A
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