Collection 1 Aqua Product Descriptions: MODIS Cloud Properties

Last update: March 28, 2019

Data Set Short Name:
CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua

Data Set Long Name:
MODIS/Aqua Cloud Properties 5-Min L2 Swath 1 km

Platform:
Aqua

Instrument:
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)

Product Description:
The Cloud Properties product is designed to facilitate continuity in cloud properties between the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on the Aqua and Terra platforms and the series of VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instruments, beginning with the Suomi NPP spacecraft. To establish continuity, this MODIS Cloud Properties product does not use algorithms identical to those used in the standard MODIS product (MOD06/MYD06). The product consists of cloud optical and physical parameters derived using observations in visible through infrared spectral channels. MODIS infrared channels that are common with VIIRS are primarily used to derive cloud top temperature, cloud top height, effective emissivity, an infrared cloud phase product (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque), and cloud fraction under both daytime and nighttime conditions. The MODIS solar reflectances channels are primarily used to derive cloud optical thickness, particle effective particle radius, water path, and to inform the phase used in the optical retrievals. The MODIS Cloud Properties product is a Level-2 product generated at 1000 m (at nadir) spatial resolution.

File_naming_convention = CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua.AYYYYDDD.HHMM.CCC.YYYYDDDHHMMSS.nc

• AYYYYDDD = Acquisition Year and Day of Year
• HHMM = Acquisition Hour and Minute
• CCC = Collec tion number
• YYYYDDDHHMMSS = Production Date and Time
• nc = NetCDF4

Production Frequency:
288 files per day

Spatial Coverage:
Global

Spatial Resolution:
1000 m at nadir

File Size:
~62 MB

Related Links:

Citation:
We kindly request that you cite the use of this data set in a publication using the following citation.

Author (PI), et al., 2017. Product name as given on product web site. NASA MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Goddard Space Flight Center, USA: [DOI link].

For example:
Ackerman, S., et al., 2017. VIIRS Atmosphere L2 Cloud Mask Product. NASA MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Goddard Space Flight Center, USA: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua.001

Data Authors:
S. Platnick, K. G. Meyer, A. K. Heidinger, and R. Holz

Dataset Originator/Creator:
VIIRS Atmosphere Science Team / SSEC, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dataset DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua.001