MODIS MCD

Long name	MODIS MCD
Short name	MCD
Sensor type	Optical
Platform	MODIS
Key file name (use to open dataset)	.hdf
Supported file name extensions	.hdf
Sections	Data product name and description Distribution disk files Returned data for supported format References

Data product name and description

The MODIS instrument operates on both the Terra and Aqua spacecraft. It has a viewing swath width of 2,330 kilometers and views the entire surface of the Earth every one to two days. The instrument's detectors measure 36 spectral bands ranging from 0.405 through 14.385 µm, and it acquires data at three spatial resolutions: 250 meter, 500 meter, and 1,000 meter.

GDB for MODIS supports the following products:

MCD43A2
MCD43A4

Note: The information provided herein is based on the data distributor's documentation cited under References.

Product level	Horizontal accuracy (m)	Description/notes
MCD43A2	~500	Contains: Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)/Albedo band quality (inversion information) Days of valid observation during the 16-day period for MODIS ranging from bands 1 through 7 Land-water type Snow BRDF/Albedo Local solar noon Platform BRDF/Albedo uncertainty
MCD43A4	~500	Provides adjusted-reflectance (NBAR) and quality layers for MODIS ranging from bands 1 through 7

Spectral bands: Spectral range (nm)	Spatial resolution (m)* (spectral resolution)	Maximum image dimensions (Across track x along track, km)	Notes
MCD43A2 Quality bands only	~500	1200 x 1200	N/A
MCD43A4 Band 1 (Red): 620 - 570 Band 2 (NIR): 841 - 876 Band 3 (Blue): 459 - 479 Band 4 (Green): 545 - 565 Band 5 (SWIR-1): 1230 - 1250 Band 6 (SWIR-2): 1628 - 1652 Band 7 (MWIR): 2105 - 2155	~500	1200 x 1200	N/A

* Resolution is always nadir position unless noted otherwise.

Distribution disk files

MODIS data sets are distributed as a single Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) file.

You can open a MODIS data set by selecting the *.hdf file.

When opening a MODIS data set, the files read by GDB are as described in the following table.

File name	Format	Required	Contents/details
*.hdf	Hierarchical Data Format (HDF)	Yes	Contains image data and associated metadata

Returned data for supported format

MODIS data can be opened directly in its raw vendor format or imported into a PCIDSK (*.pix) file using the key file name (*.hdf). For optimal processing, use the PCIDSK format.

The following table describes the data structure after it is opened by GDB.

Data product	Data returned	Details
MCD43A2	4 x [8U] raster channels 7 x [16U] raster channels 7 x [8U] raster channels 1 x [8U] raster channel 1 x [TEX] text segment	For channel information, visit: lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/mcd43a2v006
MCD43A4	7 x [8U] raster channels 7 x [16U] raster channels 1 x [TEX] text segment	The first seven channels are quality layers for MODIS bands 1 through 7. Channels 8 through 14 are NBAR values for MODIS bands 1 through 7.

References

For more information, visit: