ISLSCP II MODIS (Collection 4) Albedo, 2002

This International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP II) MODerate resolution Image Spectroradiometer (MODIS) dataset, ISLSCP II MODIS (Collection 4) Albedo 2002, provides albedo data for the period January 2002 through December 2002.The MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) albedo product (MOD43B) provides measures of clear sky surface albedo every 16 days. Both white-sky albedo (bihemispherical reflectance) and black-sky albedo (directional hemispherical reflectance) at local solar noon are provided for 7 spectral bands and 3 broadbands.

Since black-sky albedo represents the direct beam contribution while white-sky represents the completely diffuse contribution, these measures can be linearly combined as a function of the fraction of diffuse skylight (itself a function of optical depth) to provide an actual or instantaneous albedo at local solar noon.