![MODIS/062/MCD18C2](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/images/MODIS/MODIS_062_MCD18C2_sample.png)

Dataset Availability
:   2000-02-24T00:00:00Z--2026-08-01T00:00:00Z

Dataset Producer
:


    [NASA LP DAAC at the USGS EROS Center](https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/mcd18c2v062/)

Cadence
:   1 Day

Tags
:
    [par](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/par) [radiation](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/radiation) [weather-and-climate](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/tags/weather-and-climate)

#### Description

The MCD18C2 Version 6.2
is a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) Terra and Aqua combined Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)
gridded Level 3 product produced daily at 0.05 degree (5,600 meters at the
equator) resolution with estimates of PAR every 3 hours. PAR is incident
solar radiation in the visible spectrum (400-700 nanometers) and is an
important variable in land-surface models that address a variety of
scientific and application issues. The MCD18 products are based on a
prototyping algorithm that uses multi-temporal signatures of MODIS data to
derive surface reflectance and then calculate incident PAR using the look-up
table (LUT) approach. The LUTs consider different types of loadings of
aerosols and clouds at a variety of illumination/viewing geometry. Global
PAR products are generated from MODIS and geostationary satellite data.
Additional details regarding the methodology used to create the data are
available in the
[Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document](https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/documents/106/MCD18_ATBD.pdf)

### Bands

**Bands**

Pixel size: 5566 meters (all bands)

| Name | Pixel Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `GMT_0000_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 00:00 |
| `GMT_0300_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 03:00 |
| `GMT_0600_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 06:00 |
| `GMT_0900_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 09:00 |
| `GMT_1200_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 12:00 |
| `GMT_1500_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 15:00 |
| `GMT_1800_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 18:00 |
| `GMT_2100_PAR` | 5566 meters | Total PAR at GMT 21:00 |

### 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:

- Please visit [LP DAAC 'Citing Our Data' page](https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/citing_our_data)
  for information on citing LP DAAC datasets.

### DOIs

- <https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD18C2.062>

### Explore with Earth Engine

> [!NOTE]
> **Important:** Earth Engine is a platform for petabyte-scale scientific analysis and visualization of geospatial datasets, both for public benefit and for business and government users. Earth Engine is free to use for research, education, and nonprofit use. To get started, please [register for Earth Engine access.](https://console.cloud.google.com/earth-engine)

### Code Editor (JavaScript)

```javascript
var dataset = ee.ImageCollection('MODIS/062/MCD18C2')
                  .filter(ee.Filter.date('2001-01-01', '2001-02-01'));
var gmt_1200_par = dataset.select('GMT_1200_PAR');
var gmt_1200_par_vis = {
  min: -236,
  max: 316,
  palette: ['0f17ff', 'b11406', 'f1ff23'],
};
Map.setCenter(6.746, 46.529, 2);
Map.addLayer(
    gmt_1200_par, gmt_1200_par_vis,
    'Total PAR at GMT 12:00');
```
[Open in Code Editor](https://code.earthengine.google.com/?scriptPath=Examples:Datasets/MODIS/MODIS_062_MCD18C2) [MCD18C2.062 Photosynthetically Active Radiation Daily 3-Hour](https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/MODIS_062_MCD18C2) The MCD18C2 Version 6.2 is a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua combined Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) gridded Level 3 product produced daily at 0.05 degree (5,600 meters at the equator) resolution with estimates of PAR every 3 hours. PAR is incident solar radiation in the visible spectrum ... MODIS/062/MCD18C2, par,radiation,weather-and-climate 2000-02-24T00:00:00Z/2026-08-01T00:00:00Z -90 -180 90 180 Google Earth Engine https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets

- [https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD18C2.062](https://doi.org/https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/mcd18c2v062/)
- [https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD18C2.062](https://doi.org/https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/MODIS_062_MCD18C2)