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

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Entry ID

MOD10_L2

Summary

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 another using a less cloud-conservative mask. MODIS/Terra V004 data extend from 24 February 2000 to Dec 31, 2006. MODIS snow cover data are based on a snow mapping algorithm that employs a Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and other criteria tests. The only data available for Version 4 (V004) is the Golden Month, which is a sample of V004 data covering the time period 29 August 2002 (day of year 241) through 7 October 2002 (day of year 280). The Golden Month is only available by special request by contacting NSIDC User Services.

Please note that NSIDC now has a complete series of Version 5 data, which is the highest version number now available and represents the best quality of data.

Data Set Citation

Dataset 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

Data Resolution

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

Location Keywords

• Continent Africa
• Continent Antarctica
• Continent Asia
• Continent Australia/new Zealand
• Continent Europe
• Continent North America
• Continent South America
• Geographic Region Eastern Hemisphere
• Geographic Region Global Land
• Geographic Region Northern Hemisphere
• Geographic Region Polar
• Geographic Region Southern Hemisphere
• Geographic Region Western Hemisphere

Science Keywords

• Cryosphere Snow/Ice Lake Ice
• Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover
• Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Lake Ice
• Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover

Ancillary Keywords

• Antarctic
• Arctic
• Climatology
• DAAC
• ECS
• EOSDIS
• Global Change
• Lake Ice
• NASA
• NSIDC
• Polar
• Remote Sensing
• Snow
• Snow Cover
• Snow On Ice
• Swath

ISO Topic Category (View Definitions)

• 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.

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Originating Center

MODAPS

Data Center

National Snow and Ice Data Center
Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org
Data Set ID: MOD10_L2V3, MOD10_L2V5

Data Center Personnel

Name: NSIDC User Services
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@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

NSIDC Distributed Active Archive Center
Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org/daac/index.html
Data Set ID: MOD10_L2V3, MOD10_L2V5

Data Center Personnel

Name: NSIDC DAAC User Services
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@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

Vince V. Salomonson
Role: INVESTIGATOR
Contact Address:
Room 809 WBB
Department of Meteorology
University of Utah
City: Salt Lake City
Province or State: UT
Postal Code: 84112
Country: US

NSIDC USER SERVICES
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@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

George A. Riggs
Role: INVESTIGATOR
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
Mail stop 614.1
City: Greenbelt
Province or State: MD
Postal Code: 20771

Related URL

VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
MODIS Data at NSIDC

Reference

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. Development of methods for mapping global snow cover using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Remote Sensing of the Environment 54(2): 127-140.

Hall, D.K. and J. Martinec. 1985. Remote Sensing of Ice and Snow. London: Chapman and Hall.

Markham, B.L. and J.L. Barker. 1986. Landsat MSS and TM post-calibration dynamic ranges, exoatmospheric reflectances and at-satellite temperatures. EOSAT Technical Notes 1:3-8.

MODIS Characterization and Support Team (MCST). 2000. MODIS level 1B product user's guide for level 1B Version 2.3.x Release 2. MCST Document #MCM-PUG-01-U-DNCN.

MODIS Science and Instrument Team. MODIS Web (July 2003). Accessed October 2000.

Pearson II, F. 1990. Map projections: theory and applications. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc.

Riggs, G.A., D.K. Hall, and V.V. Salomonson. January 2006. MODIS snow products user guide for collection 4 data products. .

Wiscombe, W.J. and S.G. Warren. 1980. A model for the spectral albedo of snow I: pure snow. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 37:2712-2733.

Metadata Name and Version

Metadata Name: CEOS IDN DIF
Metadata Version: 9.7

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2000-09-01
Last DIF Revision Date: 2007-10-16
Future DIF Review Date: 2008-09-01

DIF Text-Only

Directory Interchange Format (DIF) in plain text

DIF XML

Directory Interchange Format (DIF) in Extensible Markup Language (XML)

FGDC HTML

U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM)