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Description
The Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD16A3GF Version 6.1 Evapotranspiration/Latent Heat Flux (ET/LE) product is a year-end gap-filled yearly composite dataset produced at 500 meter (m) pixel resolution. The algorithm used for the MOD16 data product collection is based on the logic of the Penman-Monteith equation, which includes inputs of daily meteorological reanalysis data along with MODIS remotely sensed data products such as vegetation property dynamics, albedo, and land cover.
The MODIS MOD16A3GF will be generated at the end of each year when the entire yearly 8-day MOD15A2H is available. Hence, the gap-filled MOD16A3GF is the improved MOD16, which has cleaned the poor-quality inputs from yearly Leaf Area Index and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (LAI/FPAR) based on the Quality Control (QC) label for every pixel. If any LAI/FPAR pixel did not meet the quality screening criteria, its value is determined through linear interpolation. However, users cannot get MOD16A3GF in near-real time because it will be generated only at the end of a given year.
Provided in the MOD16A3GF product are layers for composited ET, 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 MOD16A3GF 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 6.1 evapotranspiration 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, (2) A polarization correction has been applied to the L1B Reflective Solar Bands (RSB), and (3) The product uses Climatology Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) as back up to the operational LAI/FPAR.
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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Running, S., Mu, Q., Zhao, M., & Moreno, A. (2021). MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Gap-Filled Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V061 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3GF.061 Date Accessed: 2026-05-02
Running, Steve, Qiaozhen Mu, Maosheng Zhao, and Alvaro Moreno. “MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Gap-Filled Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V061.” NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, 2021. doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3GF.061. Date Accessed: 2026-05-02
Running, Steve, et al. MODIS/Terra Net Evapotranspiration Gap-Filled Yearly L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V061. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, 2021, doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD16A3GF.061. Date Accessed: 2026-05-02
File Naming Convention
MOD16A3GF.A2024001.h01v10.061.2025019223910.hdf
The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MOD16A3GF) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2024001), the Tile Identifier which is horizontal tile and vertical tile provided as hXXvYY (h01v10), the Version of the data collection (061), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025019223910), and the Data Format (hdf).
Li, Bonan, Sprenger, Matthias, Wyatt, Briana M., Gimenez, Daniel, Hirmas, Daniel R., Ajami, Hoori, Wiekenkamp, Inge, Groh, Jannis, Nimmo, John R., Amato, Matthew T., Singh, Nitin K., Crompton, Octavia, Araki, Ryoko, Xu, Tianfang, Sullivan, Pamela L.
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.