Collection 1 SNPP Product Descriptions: VIIRS Cloud Properties

Last update: March 28, 2019

Data Set Short Name:
CLDPROP_L2_VIIRS_SNPP

Data Set Long Name:
VIIRS/SNPP Cloud Properties 6-Min L2 Swath 750 m

Platform:
Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (S-NPP)

Instrument:
Visible-Infrared Imaging-Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

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. The VIIRS Cloud Properties product consists of cloud optical and physical parameters. These parameters are derived using observations in visible through infrared spectral channels. VIIRS infrared channel radiances 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 VIIRS solar reflectance channels are primarily used to derive cloud optical thickness, particle effective radius, water path, and to inform the phase used in the optical retrievals. The VIIRS Cloud Properties product is a Level-2 product generated at 750 m (at nadir) spatial resolution.

file_naming_convention = CLDPROP_L2_VIIRS_SNPP.AYYYYDDD.HHMM.CCC.YYYYDDDHHMMSS.nc

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

Production Frequency:
240 files per day

Spatial Coverage:
Global

Spatial Resolution:
750 m at nadir

File Size:
~230 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 Properties Product. NASA MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Goddard Space Flight Center, USA: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/CLDPROP_L2_VIIRS_SNPP.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:
https://dx.doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/CLDPROP_L2_VIIRS_SNPP.001