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MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 5-Min L2 Swath 500m, Version 4

Entry ID: MOD10_L2

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Summary

Abstract: MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 5-Min L2 Swath 500m (MOD10_L2) contains snow cover and quality assurance (QA) data, latitudes, and longitudes in HDF-EOS format, along with corresponding metadata. Latitude and longitude geolocation fields are at 5 km resolution, while all other fields are at 500 m resolution. Version 4 (V004) has two separate snow cover fields: one incorporating the original cloud mask, and ...

Related URL

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Description: MODIS Data at NSIDC

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 90.0

S: -90.0

E: 180.0

W: -180.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Hall, D.K., G. A. Riggs, and V. V. Salomonson

Dataset Title: MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 5-Min L2 Swath 500m, Version 4

Dataset Release Date: 2000-09-01

Dataset Release Place: Boulder, CO

Dataset Publisher: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

Version: 4

Online Resource: http://nsidc.org/data/mod10_l2.html

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2000-02-24

Stop Date: 2006-12-31

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > AFRICA

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

Data Resolution

Latitude Resolution: 500 m
Longitude Resolution: 500 m
Temporal Resolution: 5 min

Science Keywords

CRYOSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > LAKE ICE

CRYOSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW COVER

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > LAKE ICE

TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW COVER

ISO Topic Category

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

IMAGERY/BASE MAPS/EARTH COVER

Platform

TERRA > Earth Observing System, TERRA (AM-1)

Instrument

MODIS > Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

SPECTRORADIOMETERS

Project

EOS > Earth Observing System

EOSDIS > Earth Observing System Data Information System

ESIP > Earth Science Information Partners Program

Quality Quality indicators for MODIS snow data are represented by AutomaticQualityFlag and ScienceQualityFlag metadata objects and their corresponding explanations, AutomaticQualityFlagExplanation and ScienceQualityFlagExplanation, in the CoreMetadata.0 global attribute, in custom local attributes associated with the snow cover Science Data Set (SDS), and also in the Snow Cover PixelQA data field. These ... are generated during production or in post-product scientific and quality checks of the data product. The AutomaticQualityFlag is automatically set according to conditions for meeting data criteria in the snow mapping algorithm. In most cases, the flag is set to either Passed or Suspect, and in rare instances, it may be set to Failed. Suspect means that a significant percentage of the data were anomalous and that further analysis should be done to determine the source of anomalies. The AutomaticQualityFlagExplanation contains a brief message explaining the reason for the setting of the AutomaticQualityFlag. The ScienceQualityFlag and the ScienceQualityFlagExplanation maybe updated after production, either after an automated QA program is run or after the data product is inspected by a qualified snow scientist. Content and explanation of this flag are dynamic so it should always be examined if present in the external metadata file. The snow algorithm identifies missing data and reports them in the output product. Certain expected anomalous conditions may exist with the input data such as a few missing lines or unusable data from the MODIS sensor. In these cases, the snow algorithm makes no snow decision for an affected pixel. Summary statistics are calculated for these conditions and reported as Valid EV Obs Band x percent and Saturated EV Obs Band 1 percent local attributes Riggs, Hall, and Salomonson 2003). In addition to these data values, the product contains quality information at the pixel level. The Snow Cover PixelQA data field provides additional information on algorithm results for each pixel within a MODIS scene and is used as a measure of usefulness for snow-cover data. The QA information tells if algorithm results were nominal, abnormal, or if other defined conditions were encountered for a pixel (Riggs, Hall, and Salomonson 2003). For example, intermediate checks for theoretical bounding of reflectance data and the NDSI ratio are made in the algorithm. In theory, reflectance values should lie within the 0-100 percent range, and the NDSI ratio should lie within the -1.0 to +1.0 range. Summary statistics are kept for pixels that exceed these theoretical limits; however, the test for snow is done regardless of violations of these limits. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: MODIS Land Quality Assessment Web site provides updated quality information for each product.

Ancillary Keywords

Antarctic

Arctic

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

NSIDC Distributed Active Archive Center

Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org/daac/index.html
Dataset ID: MOD10_L2V3, MOD10_L2V5

Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC USER SERVICES Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199 Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468 Email: nsidc at nsidc.org Contact Address: National Snow and Ice Data Center CIRES, 449 UCB University of Colorado City: Boulder Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80309-0449 Country: USA

National Snow and Ice Data Center

Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org
Dataset ID: MOD10_L2V3, MOD10_L2V5

Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC USER SERVICES Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199 Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468 Email: nsidc at nsidc.org Contact Address: National Snow and Ice Data Center CIRES, 449 UCB University of Colorado City: Boulder Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80309-0449 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: upon request

Distribution Size: 32.4

Distribution Format: GeoTIFF

Distribution Media: upon request

Distribution Size: 32.4

Distribution Format: HDF-EOS

Personnel

DOROTHY K. HALL

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Contact Address:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Mail stop 614.1

City: Greenbelt

Province or State: MD

Postal Code: 20771

Publications/References

Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). 1996. EOS Ground System (EGS) systems and operations concept. Greenbelt, MD: Goddard Space Flight Center.

Hall, D.K., A.B. Tait, G.A. Riggs, and V.V. Salomonson. 1998. Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) for the MODIS Snow, Lake Ice, and Sea Ice Mapping Algorithms (Version 4.0).

Hall, D.K., G.A. Riggs, and V.V. Salomonson. 1995. ...

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2000-09-01

Last DIF Revision Date: 2012-05-04

Future DIF Review Date: 2008-09-01

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