MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 8-Day L3 Global 500m SIN Grid, Version 61
Data set id:
MOD10A2
DOI: 10.5067/MODIS/MOD10A2.061
This is the most recent version of these data.
Version Summary
Version Summary
1. The low visible reflectance screen for snow cover using bands 2 and 4 was lowered from 0.10 to 0.07.
2. Cloud mask algorithm flags are set for 'probably cloudy' and 'probably clear' sky conditions in the algorithm flags QA data set.
2. Cloud mask algorithm flags are set for 'probably cloudy' and 'probably clear' sky conditions in the algorithm flags QA data set.
Overview
This global Level-3 (L3) data set provides the maximum snow cover extent observed over an eight-day period within 10° x 10° MODIS sinusoidal grid tiles. Tiles are generated by compositing 500 m observations from the 'MODIS/Terra Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500m Grid' data set (DOI:10.5067/MODIS/MOD10A1.061). A bit flag index is used to track the eight-day snow/no-snow chronology for each 500 m cell.
The terms "Version 61" and "Collection 6.1" are used interchangeably in reference to this release of MODIS data.
Parameter(s):
SNOW COVER
Platform(s):
Terra
Sensor(s):
MODIS
Data Format(s):
HDF-EOS2
Temporal Coverage:
18 February 2000 to present
Temporal Resolution:
- 8 day
Spatial Resolution:
- 500 m
- 500 m
Spatial Coverage:
N:
90
S:
-90
E:
180
W:
-180
Blue outlined yellow areas on the map below indicate the spatial coverage for this data set.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Daily snow-cover record from MODIS begins on February 24, 2000, representing more than two decades of moderate-resolution (500 m) snow-cover maps (Hall et al., 2019)
- MODIS snow-cover products provide Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) values from 0 – 100. Users can use the NDSI as is or convert it to fractional or binary snow cover (Salomonson and Appel, 2004; Riggs et al., 2019).
- 8-day snow-cover maps show maximum extent of snow cover over an 8-day period (Hall and Riggs, 2007).
- 8-day snow-cover maps minimize cloud cover by using clear observations in the period, however cloud cover persisting for 8 days is mapped (Riggs et al., 2019).
- 8-day snow-cover maps include persistent cloud cover, polar darkness and other features (Riggs et al., 2019).
Limitations
- Snow cover may not be mapped during a given 8-day period if a snowfall occurred and resulting snow on the ground melted before the clouds cleared (Riggs et al., 2019).
- Cloud cover is biggest limitation to use of MODIS snow-cover products, which can prevent mapping of some snow (Hall and Riggs, 2007).
- Areas of ephemeral snow cover and very thin snow cover may not be mapped by MODIS (Hall et al., 2010).
- Polar darkness prevents snow-cover mapping in polar regions during the winter (Riggs et al., 2019).
- Because this product represents an 8-day period, most users would be better-served to use MOD10A1F (daily cloud-gap-filled) product instead (Hall et al., 2010; Riggs et al., 2019). Using MOD10A1F, a unique compositing period may be selected.
Data Access & Tools
A free NASA Earthdata Login account is required to access these data. Learn More
Documentation
User Guide
General Resources
Product Specification Documents
Help Articles
General Questions & FAQs
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