MODAPS PCR 16-020
| PCR Number | 16-020 |
|---|---|
| Date | 2016-10-24 |
| Initiator | Louis Giglio |
| Abstract | PGE133 v6.0.4, PGE134 v6.0.4 -- Code change to read the input BA-intermediate, active fire product from operational processing, new land cover map, and write required ECS metadata in the output product. |
| Problem Statement | Processing of the C6 Burned Area product, MCD64A1, using a new C6 science algorithm to start at MODAPS and replacing the current C5.1 version of the MCD45A1 burned area product. |
| Description of Change | Burned Area mapping Algorithm developed by Giglio et al. (2009) at UMD and used in operational processing of the BA product by the MODIS DB facility was ported as two PGEs, PGE 133 and PGE 134, for use in the operational processing of the C6 BA product at MODAPS. The C6 BA product with new ESDT MCD64A1 will replace the C5.1 BA product MCD45A1. The product format is nearly the same and the basic science algorithm is similar, with the notable exception that MCD64A1 algorithm employs MODIS active fire observations (via MOD14A1 and MYD14A1) to help isolate burned and unburned training samples that are used in a later classification phase. In contrast, the MCD45A1 approach makes no use of active fire data whatsoever. |
| Products Affected | MCD64A0, MCD64A1 |
| Software Affected | PGE: PGE133 v6.0.4, PGE134 v6.0.4 Process: MOD_PR64 |
| Processing String to Receive the Change | Terra and Aqua Forward Processing. Terra and Aqua Reprocessing |
| Downstream Product Effects | None. |
| Data Granules to be Used for Science Testing | Run 1-year global test of year 2006 verifying the implementation and performance of the algorithm and sci-ence product. |
| Justification | Advantages of the MCD64 approach over MCD45 include reduced omission error, better detection of small burns, significantly lower burn-date temporal uncertainty, and a major reduction in the occurrence of unclassified grid cells. In particular, the algorithm has a much greater tolerance of cloud-contaminated observations (the detrimental impact of such observations is less severe than for MCD45). Evaluation by the science team as well as independent assessment (Tsela et al. 2010; Loboda et al., 2011; Libonati et al., 2015; Padilla et al., 2015) has confirmed the general superiority of the MCD64A1 product. As an added benefit, the MCD64 operational production code is much less computationally intensive than the MCD45 equivalent. |
| Effective Date for Implementation of Change | Completed. |
| Status | Major algorithm development completed. Sadashiva Devadiga approved on 10/28/2016. Michael King approved on 11/01/2016. |
