MCD43A3.061 MODIS Albedo Daily 500m

  • The MCD43A3 V6.1 Albedo Model dataset provides daily black-sky and white-sky albedo data at a 500m pixel size.

  • This dataset covers MODIS bands 1 through 7 and three broad spectrum bands (visible, near infrared, and shortwave).

  • Each daily image is generated using 16 days of data, centered on the given day, and includes a quality band for each albedo band.

  • The dataset is available from 2000-02-24 to 2025-10-05 and is provided by NASA LP DAAC at the USGS EROS Center.

  • MODIS data and products from the LP DAAC have no restrictions on subsequent use, sale, or redistribution.
MODIS/061/MCD43A3
Dataset Availability
2000-02-24T00:00:00Z–2026-03-03T00:00:00Z
Dataset Producer
Earth Engine Snippet
ee.ImageCollection("MODIS/061/MCD43A3")
Cadence
1 Day
Tags
albedo black-sky daily global modis nasa satellite-imagery usgs white-sky

Description

The MCD43A3 V6.1 Albedo Model dataset is a daily 16-day product. It provides both directional hemispherical reflectance (black sky albedo) and bihemispherical reflectance (white sky albedo) for each of the MODIS surface reflectance bands (band 1 through band 7) as well as 3 broad spectrum bands (visible, near infrared, and shortwave). Each 500m/pixel daily image is generated using 16 days of data, centered on the given day. A quality band is also provided for each of the 10 albedo bands.

Documentation:

Bands

Bands

Pixel size: 500 meters (all bands)

Name Min Max Scale Pixel Size Wavelength Description
Albedo_BSA_Band1 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 620-670nm

Black-sky albedo for band 1
Albedo_BSA_Band2 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 841-876nm

Black-sky albedo for band 2
Albedo_BSA_Band3 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 459-479nm

Black-sky albedo for band 3
Albedo_BSA_Band4 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 545-565nm

Black-sky albedo for band 4
Albedo_BSA_Band5 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 1230-1250nm

Black-sky albedo for band 5
Albedo_BSA_Band6 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 1628-1652nm

Black-sky albedo for band 6
Albedo_BSA_Band7 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 2105-2155nm

Black-sky albedo for band 7
Albedo_BSA_vis 0 32766 0.001 500 meters None

Black-sky albedo for visible brodband
Albedo_BSA_nir 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 858nm

Black-sky albedo for NIR broadband
Albedo_BSA_shortwave 0 32766 0.001 500 meters None

Black-sky albedo for shortwave broadband
Albedo_WSA_Band1 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 620-670nm

White-sky albedo for band 1
Albedo_WSA_Band2 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 841-876nm

White-sky albedo for band 2
Albedo_WSA_Band3 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 459-479nm

White-sky albedo for band 3
Albedo_WSA_Band4 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 545-565nm

White-sky albedo for band 4
Albedo_WSA_Band5 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 1230-1250nm

White-sky albedo for band 5
Albedo_WSA_Band6 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 1628-1652nm

White-sky albedo for band 6
Albedo_WSA_Band7 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 2105-2155nm

White-sky albedo for band 7
Albedo_WSA_vis 0 32766 0.001 500 meters None

White-sky albedo for visible broadband
Albedo_WSA_nir 0 32766 0.001 500 meters 858nm

White-sky albedo for NIR broadband
Albedo_WSA_shortwave 0 32766 0.001 500 meters None

White-sky albedo for shortwave broadband
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band1 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 1
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band2 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 2
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band3 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 3
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band4 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 4
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band5 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 5
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band6 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 6
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_Band7 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for band 7
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_vis 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for visible broadband
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_nir 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for NIR broadband
BRDF_Albedo_Band_Mandatory_Quality_shortwave 500 meters None

BRDF albedo mandatory quality for shortwave broadband

Terms of Use

Terms of Use

MODIS data and products acquired through the LP DAAC have no restrictions on subsequent use, sale, or redistribution.

Citations

Citations:

DOIs

Explore with Earth Engine

Code Editor (JavaScript)

var dataset = ee.ImageCollection('MODIS/061/MCD43A3')
                  .filter(ee.Filter.date('2018-01-01', '2018-05-01'));
var blackSkyAlbedo = dataset.select('Albedo_BSA_Band1');
var blackSkyAlbedoVis = {
  min: 0.0,
  max: 400.0,
};
Map.setCenter(6.746, 46.529, 6);
Map.addLayer(blackSkyAlbedo, blackSkyAlbedoVis, 'Black-Sky Albedo');
Open in Code Editor
The MCD43A3 V6.1 Albedo Model dataset is a daily 16-day product. It provides both directional hemispherical reflectance (black sky albedo) and bihemispherical reflectance (white sky albedo) for each of the MODIS surface reflectance bands (band 1 through band 7) as well as 3 broad spectrum bands (visible, near infrared, and …
MODIS/061/MCD43A3, albedo,black-sky,daily,global,modis,nasa,satellite-imagery,usgs,white-sky
2000-02-24T00:00:00Z/2026-03-03T00:00:00Z
-90 -180 90 180
Google Earth Engine