Status for: BRDF/Albedo (MCD43)
General Accuracy Statement
Validation at stage 4 has been achieved for the albedo product (MCD43)
The accuracy of the high quality 500m MODIS operational albedo is well less than 5% albedo at a majority of the validation sites studied thus far, and even those albedo values with low quality flags, have been found to be primarily within 10% of the field data. While the daily retrieval algorithm has been shown to capture rapid changes well, such as snow melt and greenup, the values associated with rapid change may be flagged as lower quality, as the algorithm can lag in response to abrupt reactions seen in field data. Therefore, it is vitally important that users refer to the associated quality flags in the product (MCD43B) for use in their research efforts. Furthermore, data with solar zenith angles greater than 70 degrees should be considered suspect for research efforts.
ALL users must transition to Collection 6.1 land products, as several known upstream issues in MODIS Collection 6 products have been addressed, and the LPDAAC has discontinued distribution and support for Collection 6 products. Therefore, as Collection 6.1 products become available, MODIS products prior to Collection 6.1 SHOULD NO LONGER BE USED for research efforts.
For users interested in products provided in a lat/lon climate modeling grid, we strongly recommend they consider using the MCD43D* 30 arc second gridded products.
The Sanchez-Zapero et al., 2023 paper (shown below) provides the systematic evaluation required to upgrade the product to the stage 4 validation status. The Román, Justice, Paynter et al., paper below indicates the continuity between the MODIS and VIIRS land products.
Product status updated: April 2024
Product version: Collection 6.1
Product version: Collection 6.1
Supporting Studies:
| Title: Continuity between NASA MODIS Collection 6.1 and VIIRS Collection 2 land products |
| Author: Roman, M. O., Justice, C., Paynter, I., Boucher, P. B., Devadiga, S., Endsley, A., Erb, A., Friedl, M., Gao, H., Giglio, L., Gray, J., Hall, D., Hulley, G., Kimball, J., Knyazikhin, Y., Lyapustin, A., Myneni, R., Noojipady, P., Pu, J., Riggs, G., Sarkar, S., Schaaf, C., Shah, D., Tran, K., Vermote, E., Wang, D., Wang, Z., Wu, A., Ye, Y., Shen, Y., Zhang, Zhang, S., Zhang, X., Zhao, M., Davidson, C., and Wolfe, R. |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Surface ALbedo VALidation (SALVAL) Platform: Towards CEOS LPV Validation Stage 4 — Application to Three Global Albedo Climate Data Records. |
| Author: Sánchez-Zapero, J., Martínez-Sánchez, E., Camacho, F., Wang, Z., Carrer, D., Schaaf, C., García-Haro, F. J., Nickeson, J., & Cosh, M. |
| Source: Remote Sensing, 15(4), Article 4. |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Consequences of the 2019 Greenland Ice Sheet Melt Episode on Albedo |
| Author: Elmes, A., Levy, C., Erb, A., Hall, D., Scambos, T., DiGirolamo, N., and Schaaf, C. |
| Source: Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13020227 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Bi-Directional Reflectance Factor Determination of the Railroad Valley Playa |
| Author: Bruegge, C., Coburn, C., Elmes, A., Helmlinger, M. C., Kataoka, F., Kuester, M., Kuze, A., Ochoa, T., Schaaf, C., Shiomi, K., and Schwander, F. M |
| Source: Remote Sensing, 11 (12), 2019 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Global Surface Albedo Product Validation Best Practices Protocol |
| Author: Wang, Z., Schaaf, C., Lattanzio, A., Carrer, D., Grant, I., Román, M., Camacho, F., Yu, Y., Sánchez-Zapero, J. and Nickeson, J. |
| Source: Best Practice for Satellite Derived Land Product Validation (p. 45): Land Product Validation Subgroup (WGCV/CEOS), 2019. |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Capturing rapid land surface dynamics with Collection V006 MODIS BRDF/NBAR/Albedo (MCD43) products |
| Author: Wang, Z., C.B. Schaaf, Q. Sun, Y. Shuai, M.O. Román |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 207, pp. 50-64, 2018 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Evaluation of MODIS albedo product (MCD43A) over grassland, agriculture and forest surface types during dormant and snow-covered periods |
| Author: Wang, Z., C.B. Schaaf, A.H. Strahler, M.J. Chopping, M.O. Román, Y. Shuai, C.E. Woodcock, D.Y. Hollinger, D.R. Fitzjarrald |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 140, 60-77, 2014. |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Re-evaluation of MODIS MCD43 Greenland albedo accuracy and trends |
| Author: Stroeve,J., J. E. Box, Z. Wang, C. Schaaf, A. Barrett |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 138, 199-214, 2013 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Use of In Situ and Airborne Multiangle Data to Assess MODIS- and Landsat-Based Estimates of Directional Reflectance and Albedo |
| Author: Román,M. O., C. K. Gatebe, Y. Shuai, Z. Wang, F. Gao, J. Masek, T. He, S. Liang, C. B. Schaaf |
| Source: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 51(3), 1393-1404, 10.1109/TGRS.2013.2243457, 2013 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Intercomparison of MODIS albedo retrievals and in situ measurements across the global FLUXNET network |
| Author: Alessandro Cescatti, Barbara Marcolla, Suresh K. Santhana Vannan, Jerry Yun Pan, Miguel O. Román, Xiaoyuan Yang, Philippe Ciais, Robert B. Cook, Beverly E. Law, Giorgio Matteucci, Mirco Migliavacca, Eddy Moors, Andrew D. Richardson, G ünther Seufert, Crystal B. Schaaf |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment 121 (2012) 323-334 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Evaluation of Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow albedo product (MCD43A) over tundra |
| Author: Wang, Z., C. B. Schaaf, M. J. Chopping, A. H. Strahler, J. Wang, M. O.Román, A. V. Rocha, C. E. Woodcock,Y. Shuai |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 117, 264-280, 2012. |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Commentary on Wang and Zender-MODIS snow albedo bias at high solar zenith angles relative to theory and to in situ observations in Greenland |
| Author: Schaaf, C. B., Z. Wang and A. H. Strahler |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 115, 1296-1300, 2011 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: The MODIS (Collection V005) BRDF/albedo product: Assessment of spatial representativeness over forested landscapes |
| Author: Miguel O. Román, Crystal B. Schaaf, Curtis E. Woodcock, Alan H. Strahler, Xiaoyuan Yang, Rob H. Braswell, Peter S. Curtis, Kenneth J. Davis, Danilo Dragoni, Michael L. Goulden, Lianhong Gu, David Y. Hollinger, Thomas E. Kolb, Tilden P. Meyers, J. William Munger, Jeffrey L. Privette, Andrew D. Richardson, Tim B. Wilson, Steven C. Wofsy |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 113 (2009), pp. 2476-2498 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Validation of MODIS Albedo Retrieval Algorithm: Dependence of Albedo on Solar Zenith Angle |
| Author: Jicheng Liu, C. Schaaf, A. Strahler, Z. Jiao, Y. Shuai, Q. Zhang, M. Román, J. A. Augustine, and E. G. Dutton |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 114, D01106, doi:10.1029/2008JD009969 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Assessing the coupling between surface albedo derived from MODIS and the fraction of diffuse skylight over spatially-characterized landscapes |
| Author: Román, M. O., C. B. Schaaf, P. Lewis, F. Gao, G. P. Anderson, J. L. Privette, A. H. Strahler, C. E. Woodcock, M. Barnsley |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2009.11.014,2009 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Radiative impact of boreal smoke in the Arctic: Observed and modeled |
| Author: R. S. Stone, G. P. Anderson, E. P. Shettle, E. Andrews, K. Loukachine |
| Source: Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 113, D14S16, doi:10.1029/2007JD009657, 2008 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Retrieval fo Surface Albedo from Satellite Sensors |
| Author: Schaaf, C. L., J. Martonchik, B. Pinty, Y. Govaerts, F. Gao, A. Lattanzio, J. Liu, A. H. Strahler, and M. Taberner, |
| Source: in Advances in Land Remote Sensing: System, Modeling, Inversion and Application (Chapter 9) |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Quality assessment of BRDF/albedo retrievals in MODIS operational system |
| Author: Yanmin Shuai, Crystal B. Schaaf, Alan H. Strahler, Jicheng Liu, and Ziti Jiao |
| Source: Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 35, L05407, doi:10.1029/2007GL032568, 2008 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Aircraft measurements of spectral surface albedo and its consistency with ground-based and space-borne observations |
| Author: Odele Coddington, K. Sebastian Schmidt, Peter Pilewskie, Warren J. Gore, Robert W. Bergstrom, Miguel Román, Jens Redemann, Philip B. Russell, Jicheng Liu, and Crystal C. Schaaf |
| Source: Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 113, D17209, doi:10.1029/2008JD010089, 2008 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Surface BRDF estimation from an aircraft compared to MODIS and ground estimates at the Southern Great Plains site |
| Author: Kirk D. Knobelspiesse, Brian Cairns, M. Román, C. B. Schaaf, and B. Schmid |
| Source: Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, D20105, doi:10.1029/2008JD010062, 2008 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Analysis of the in-situ and MODIS albedo variability at multiple time scales in the Sahel |
| Author: Samain O., L. Kergoat, P. Hiernaux, F. Guichard, E. Mougin, F. Timouk, and F. Lavenu |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 113 (2008), D14119, doi:10.1029/2007JD009174. |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Changes in surface albedo after fire in boreal forest ecosystems of interior Alaska assessed using MODIS satellite observations |
| Author: Evan A. Lyons, Yufang Jin, and James T. Randerson |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 113 (2008), G02012, doi:10.1029/2007JG000606 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Validation of MODIS Albedo Products of Paddy Fields in Japan |
| Author: J. Susaki, Y. Yasuoka, K. Kajiwara, Y. Honda, and K. Hara |
| Source: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2007, vol. 45, no1, pp. 206-217, ISSN 0196-2892 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Validation of the MODIS Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function and Albedo Retrievals Using Combined Observations From the Aqua and Terra Platforms |
| Author: Jonathan G. Salomon, Crystal B. Schaaf, Alan H. Strahler, Feng Gao, Yufang Jin |
| Source: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 44, No. 6, June 2006, p. 1555 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Accuracy assessment of the MODIS 16-day albedo product for snow: comparisons with Greenland in situ measurements |
| Author: Julienne Stroeve , Jason E. Box, Feng Gao, Shunlin Liang, Anne Nolin, Crystal Schaaf |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 94, 46-60, 2005 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Validation of the MODIS global land surface albedo product using ground measurements in a semidesert region on the Tibetan Plateau |
| Author: Kaicun Wang, Jingmiao Liu, Xiuji Zhou, Michael Sparrow, Min Ma, Zhian Sun, and Wenhua Jiang |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 109, D05107, doi:10.1029/2003JD004229, 2004 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Use of Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer bidirectional reflectance distribution function products to enhance simulated surface albedos |
| Author: Andreas Roesch, Crystal Schaaf, and Feng Gao |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 109, D12105, doi:10.1029/2004JD004552, 2004 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Comparison of MODIS broadband albedo over an agricultural site with ground measurements and values derived from Earth observation data at a range of spatial scales |
| Author: M. Disney, P. Lewis, G. Thackrah, T. Quaife, M. Barnsley |
| Source: Int. J. Remote Sensing, 10 December, 2004, vol. 25, no. 23, pp. 5297-5317 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Consistency of MODIS surface BRDF/Albedo retrievals: 2. Validation |
| Author: Jin, Y., C. B. Schaaf, C. E. Woodcock, F. Gao, X. Li, A. H. Strahler, W. Lucht, S. Liang |
| Source: J. Geophys. Res., 108(D5), 4159, doi:10.1029/2002JD002804, 2003b |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Consistency of MODIS surface BRDF/Albedo retrievals: 1. Algorithm performance |
| Author: Jin, Y., C. B. Schaaf, C. E. Woodcock, F. Gao, X. Li, A. H. Strahler, W. Lucht, S. Liang |
| Source: Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 108, 4158, 13 pp., 2003, doi:10.1029/2002JD002803 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
| Title: Validating MODIS Land Surface Reflectance and Albedo Products: Methods and Preliminary Results |
| Author: Liang, S., H. Fang, M. Chen, C. J. Shuey, C. Walthall, C. Daughtry, J. Morisette, C. Schaaf and A. Strahler |
| Source: Remote Sensing of Environment, 83, 149-162, 2002 |
| View Abstract and Access Publication |
