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Description
The MOD16A3 Version 6 data product was decommissioned due to unexpected errors in the input data. Users are encouraged to use the MOD16A3GF Version 6.1 data product.
The MOD16A3 Version 6 Evapotranspiration/Latent Heat Flux product is a yearly composite dataset produced at 500 meter (m) pixel resolution. The algorithm is based on the logic of the Penman-Monteith equation, which includes inputs of daily meteorological reanalysis data along with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remotely sensed data products such as vegetation property dynamics, albedo, and land cover.
Provided in the MOD16A3 product are layers for yearly Evapotranspiration (ET), Latent Heat Flux (LE), Potential ET (PET) and Potential LE (PLE) along with a quality control layer. Two low resolution browse images, ET and LE, are also available for each MOD16A3 granule.
The pixel values for the two Evapotranspiration layers (ET and PET) are the sum for all days within the defined year, and the pixel values for the two Latent Heat layers (LE and PLE) are the average of all days within the defined year.
Known Issues
Operational and uncertainty issues are provided under Section 3 in the User Guide.
The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to MODIS Version 6 evapotranspiration and latent heat flux data products: (1) Spatial resolution of Version 6 products has increased to nominal 500 m from nominal 1,000 m in Version 5, and (2) Version 5 data products were previously distributed by the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group at the University of Montana. The Version 6 products are a continuation of this project.
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC)
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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)
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.
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Citation Copied
Running, S., Mu, Q., & Zhao, M. (2017). MOD16A3 MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V006 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3.006 Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
Running, Steve, Qiaozhen Mu, and Maosheng Zhao. “MOD16A3 MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V006.” NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, 2017. doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3.006. Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
Running, Steve, et al. MOD16A3 MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V006. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, 2017, doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3.006. Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
File Naming Convention
MOD16A3.A2003001.h27v10.006.2017104061811.hdf
The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MOD16A3) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2003001), the Tile Identifier which is horizontal tile and vertical tile provided as hXXvYY (h27v10), the Version of the data collection (006), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2017104061811), and the Data Format (hdf).
Salazar-Martinez, Diego, Holwerda, Friso, Holmes, Thomas R.H., Yepez, Enrico A., Hain, Christopher R., Alvarado-Barrientos, Susana, Angeles-Perez, Gregorio, Arredondo-Moreno, Tulio, Delgado-Balbuena, Josue, Figueroa-Espinoza, Bernardo, Garatuza-Payan, Jaime, Gonzalez del Castillo, Eugenia, Rodriguez, Julio C., Rojas-Robles, Nidia E., Uuh-Sonda, Jorge M., Vivoni, Enrique R.
Stegen, James C., Fansler, Sarah J., Tfaily, Malak M., Garayburu-Caruso, Vanessa A., Goldman, Amy E., Danczak, Robert E., Chu, Rosalie K., Renteria, Lupita, Tagestad, Jerry, Toyoda, Jason
Mascarenhas, Rilquer, Ruziska, Flavia M., Moreira, Eduardo Freitas, Campos, Amanda B., Loiola, Miguel, Reis, Kaike, Trindade-Silva, Amaro E., Barbosa, Felipe A. S., Salles, Lucas, Menezes, Rafael, Veiga, Rafael, Coutinho, Felipe H., Dutilh, Bas E., Guimaraes, Paulo R., Assis, Ana Paula A., Ara, Anderson, Miranda, Jose G. V., Andrade, Roberto F. S., Vilela, Bruno, Meirelles, Pedro Milet
Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux, Photosynthesis, Primary Production
The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this
dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements
collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on
satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and
model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band
have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the
designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR).
Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill
Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze
the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables.
Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data,
user guide, and/or other product documentation.
For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.