Cloud Properties
Overview
The MODIS Cloud Properties products combine infrared and visible data observations to determine both physical and radiative cloud properties. This suite offers daily global Level-2 data products. Cloud-particle phase (ice vs. water, clouds vs. snow), effective cloud-particle radius, and cloud optical thickness are derived using the MODIS visible and near-infrared channel radiances. An indication of cloud shadows affecting the scene is also provided. Cloud-top temperature, height, effective emissivity, phase (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque), and cloud fraction are produced by the infrared retrieval methods for both day and night at 5x5 1-km-pixel resolution. Finally, this MODIS product includes cirrus reflectance at visible wavelength at 1-km-pixel resolution, which is useful for removing cirrus scattering effects from the land-surface reflectance product. This suite contains two MODIS Cloud products: MOD06_L2, containing data collected from the Terra platform, and MYD06_L2, containing data collected from the Aqua platform.
Another set of daily (MCD06COSP_D3_MODIS) and monthly (MCD06COSP_M3_MODIS) products is the Level-3 Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP) Observation Simulator Package, which is a combined Aqua and Terra MODIS product that is designed to facilitate climate scientists to compare models and observations by producing synthetic MODIS observations from climate model integrations.
Product Information
- Cloud Optical Properties: Steve Platnick
- Cloud Top Properties: Steve Ackerman
- Cloud Properties: Robert Pincus
- Validation
- Cloud Product Home Page
- Documentation, Guides, ATBD
- Data Issues & Quality Statements
- Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Reference
Product Details
| Product Name | Terra | Aqua |
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| Clouds 5-Min L2 Swath 1km and 5km |
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| Product Name | Combined Aqua+Terra |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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Overview
Cloud properties exemplify a number of attributes: Cloud-optical thickness, cloud-particle phase, cloud-particle effective radius, cloud-top temperature and height, cloud thermodynamic phase, cloud fraction, etc. The NASA Continuity Cloud Properties collection is designed to sustain the long-term observational records of both Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) heritages. The Continuity Cloud Properties suite is available for the Aqua MODIS, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) VIIRS, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-20) VIIRS sources. Each of these three product suites contain Level-2 (VIIRS 6-minute and MODIS 5-minute and none for COSP) and Level-3 (daily and monthly) products.
The original MODIS cloud-top and cloud optical properties algorithms (MOD06 and MYD06 suites) benefit from certain MODIS-specific thermal infrared, water vapor and CO2 absorption channels. The lack of such spectral channels in the VIIRS instrument prevents directly porting the original MODIS algorithms to VIIRS. To ensure a commonly applicable continuity approach to data from both the MODIS and VIIRS missions, the CLDPROP algorithm was developed that only leverages a subset of the spectral channels that are common to both instruments.
The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) is a global collaborative framework that focuses on improving our knowledge of climate change. A major contributor to CMIP6 is the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP), also a global effort, whose goal is to improve our understanding and evaluation of clouds, their feedback, and their coupling with circulation, precipitation, and climate. The CFMIP Observation Simulator Package (COSP) cloud properties product suite provides daily and monthly satellite-derived aggregated cloud mask, cloud top, and cloud-optical retrieval data from three different platform/satellite instrument data streams. This suite includes products from the Aqua MODIS, SNPP VIIRS, and NOAA-20 VIIRS missions.
Cirrus clouds, a common variety of high-altitude clouds composed of ice crystals, play a crucial role in understanding weather, climate, and earth-energy balance. The SNPP VIIRS-derived Cirrus Reflectance is a separate L2 product in the Cloud Properties group that is based on an adapted version of a similar MODIS MOD06/MYD06 algorithm that uses the 1.38 µm water vapor absorption band, with major modifications and improvements.
Product Information
- Cloud Properties Product Principal Investigator: Steve Platnick
- Cloud Properties Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP) Observation Simulator Package (COSP) Principal Investigator: Robert Pincus
- Cirrus Reflectance Product Principal Investigator: Bo-Cai Gao
- Cloud Product Atm. Discipline Documentation
- Cloud Properties Level-3 COSP User Guide
- Cirrus Reflectance User Guide
- Cirrus Reflectance ATBD
- Continuity Atmosphere Products QA Plan
- Cloud Product Data Issues & Quality Statements
Product Details
| VIIRS Product Name | NOAA-20 |
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| Cloud Properties L2 6-Min Swath 750 m |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| VIIRS Product Name | Suomi NPP |
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| Cloud Properties L2 6-Min Swath 750 m |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| MODIS Product Name | Aqua |
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| Cloud Properties L2 5-Min Swath 1000 m |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid |
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| Cloud Properties COSP Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid |
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| VIIRS Product Name | Suomi NPP |
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| Cirrus Reflectance 6-min L2 Swath 750m |
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