MOD08 V6 Atmosphere Monthly Global Product Bands

This page contains band metadata for the MOD08 V6 Atmosphere Monthly Global Products MOD08_M3 (Terra) and MYD08_M3 (Aqua) .

Retrieved from modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov on January 10th, 2018.


MOD08_M3 Band List (primary parameters only) with values for Mean_Mean statistics except for bands that only represent fractions, in which case the values are for FMean.

Solar and sensor angles

Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale
Solar_Zenith Solar zenith angle (cell to Sun). Degrees 0 18000 0.01
Solar_Azimuth Solar azimuth angle (cell to Sun). Degrees -18000 18000 0.01
Sensor_Zenith Sensor zenith angle (cell to sensor). Degrees 0 18000 0.01
Sensor_Azimuth Sensor azimuth angle (cell to sensor). Degrees -18000 18000 0.01

Aerosol

Parameters derived from the L2 Aerosol (04_L2) Product

Land & ocean

Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale
Aerosol_Scattering_Angle Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Scattering_Angle". Degrees 0 18000 0.01
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Land_Ocean Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Optical_Depth_Land_And_Ocean". Note that the land part of this SDS is taken from the 04_L2 SDS Corrected_Optical_Depth_Land at 0.55 microns and the ocean part of this SDS is taken from the 04_L2 SDS Effective_Optical_Depth_Best_Ocean (a parameter that is not propagated into L3 by itself). -100 5000 0.001
Aerosol_Avg_Cloud_Distance_Land_Ocean Average distance (pixel number) to nearest cloudy pixel from each clear pixel used for 10km retrieval. Degrees 0 6000 0.01

Land only

Band Name Description Min Max Scale
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Land Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Corrected_Optical_Depth_Land". Three solutions (computed at 0.47, 0.55, and 0.66 microns) are retained. Note that this parameter group contains three joint histograms for optical depth computed using 0.47 vs. 0.55 microns, 0.47 vs. 0.66 microns, and 0.55 vs. 0.66 microns. -100 5000 0.001
Aerosol_Number_Pixels_Used_Land Number of good pixels for aerosol land retrieval at 0.47, 0.55, 0.66, 0.87, 1.24, 1.64, 2.13, 0.412, 0.443, 0.745 microns. The range of values for standard deviation statistics is 0-400. 1 400

Ocean only

Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Average_Ocean Average aerosol optical thickness at seven bands for average solution. Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Effective_Optical_Depth_Average_Ocean". -100 5000 0.001
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Small_Ocean Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Optical_Depth_Ratio_Small_Ocean_0.55micron". Retrieved optical depth for fine mode (average solution) for 0.47, 0.55, 0.66, 0.86, 1.24, 1.63, and 2.13 microns. Only the L2 "best" solution is retained in L3. The "average" solution is computed in L2 but not propagated to L3. -100 5000 0.001
Aerosol_PSML003_Ocean Number of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the column at 0.55 microns for best solution. Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Cloud_Condensation_Nuclei_Ocean". CCN/cm^2 0 1e10
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_by_models_ocean Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Optical_Depth_by_models_ocean". The parameter has solutions at 9 models (small 1-4, large sea salt 5-7, large mineral dust 8-9). -100 5000 0.001
Aerosol_Number_Pixels_Used_Ocean Number of good pixels for aerosol ocean retrieval at 0.47, 0.55, 0.66, 0.87, 1.24, 1.64, 2.13, 0.412, 0.443, 0.745 microns. 1 400

Deep blue

Band Name Description Min Max Scale
Deep_Blue_Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Land Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "Deep_Blue_Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Land ". Deep blue aerosol optical depth at 0.412, 0.47, and 0.66 microns for land (corrected). 0 5000 0.001
Deep_Blue_Aerosol_Optical_Depth_550_Land Deep blue aerosol optical depth at 0.55 microns for land (corrected). 0 5000 0.001
Deep_Blue_Angstrom_Exponent_Land Deep blue angstrom exponent for land (0.412 - 0.47 microns). -500 5000 0.001
Deep_Blue_Single_Scattering_Albedo_Land Deep blue single scattering albedo at 0.412, 0.47, and 0.66 microns for land. The range of values for standard deviation statistics is 0-1000. 700 1000 0.001
Deep_Blue_Number_Pixels_Used_550_Land Number of L2 pixels used for DB AOT retrieval 0.55 microns for land. The range of values for standard deviation statistics is 0-400. 1 400
AOD_550_Dark_Target_Deep_Blue_Combined Derived from the 04_L2 SDS "AOD_550_Dark_Target_Deep_Blue_Combined". Combines dark target and deep blue aerosol at 0.55 microns for land and ocean. 0 5000 0.001

Water vapor

Parameters derived from the L2 Water Vapor (05_L2) Product
Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale
Water_Vapor_Near_Infrared_Clear
Water_Vapor_Near_Infrared_Cloud
Derived from the 05_L2 SDS "Water_Vapor_Near_Infrared" and aggregated into a clear (bright land and ocean sunglint only) or cloud category from the 05_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_Near_Infrared". cm 0 2000 0.001

Clouds

Parameters derived from the L2 Cloud (06_L2) Product

Cirrus detection

Band Name Description Min Max Scale
Cirrus_Reflectance Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cirrus_Reflectance" and aggregated into a cirrus category from the 06_L2 SDS "Cirrus_Reflectance_Flag". 0 8000 0.002
Cirrus_Fraction_SWIR Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cirrus_Reflectance_Flag" and aggregated into a cirrus category from the 06_L2 SDS "Cirrus_Reflectance_Flag". This flag differentiates between bad data, non-cirrus, or cirrus at 1km resolution. 0 10000 0.0001

Cloud top properties

Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale Offset
Cloud_Top_Temperature
Cloud_Top_Temperature_Day
Cloud_Top_Temperature_Night
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Top_Temperature" and aggregated into day or night categories from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Mask_5km". K 0 2000 0.01 -15000
Cloud_Top_Temperature_Nadir
Cloud_Top_Temperature_Nadir_Day
Cloud_Top_Temperature_Nadir_Night
Cloud top temperature near nadir (SZA LE 32) aggregated into day or night categories. K 0 2000 0.01 -15000
Cloud_Top_Pressure
Cloud_Top_Pressure_Day
Cloud_Top_Pressure_Night
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Top_Pressure" and aggregated into day or night categories from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Mask_5km". hPa 10 11000 0.1
Cloud_Top_Pressure_Nadir
Cloud_Top_Pressure_Nadir_Day
Cloud_Top_Pressure_Nadir_Night
Cloud top pressure near nadir (SZA LE 32) aggregated into day or night categories. hPa 10 11000 0.1
Cloud_Top_Height
Cloud_Top_Height_Day
Cloud_Top_Height_Night
Geopotential height at retrieved cloud top pressure level. Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Top_Height" and aggregated into day or night categories from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Mask_5km". Meters 0 18000
Cloud_Top_Height_Nadir
Cloud_Top_Height_Nadir_Day
Cloud_Top_Height_Nadir_Night
Geopotential height at retrieved cloud top pressure level near nadir (SZA LE 32) aggregated into day or night categories. Meters 0 18000
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity_Day
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity_Night
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Effective_Emissivity" and aggregated into day or night categories from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Mask_5km". 0 100 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity_Nadir
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity_Nadir_Day
Cloud_Effective_Emissivity_Nadir_Night
Cloud effective emissivity near nadir (SZA LE 32) aggregated into day or night categories. 0 100 0.01
Cloud_Fraction
Cloud_Fraction_Day
Cloud_Fraction_Night
This is the primary L3 cloud fraction parameter from cloud mask (count of lowest 2 clear sky confidence levels, cloudy and probably cloudy / total count). This is derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Fraction" and aggregated into day or night categories using the day/night flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Mask_5km". 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Fraction_Nadir
Cloud_Fraction_Nadir_Day
Cloud_Fraction_Nadir_Night
Cloud fraction from cloud mask near nadir (SZA LE 32) aggregated into day or night categories. 0 10000 0.0001
Cirrus_Fraction_Infrared
High_Cloud_Fraction_Infrared
Derived from the cirrus and high cloud flags in the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_5km". These are true cloud fractions, where clear sky pixels are accounted for in the denominator. 0 10000 0.0001
Sunglint_Fraction_Day Sunglint fraction in the successful CTP retrieval area (day). 0 10000 0.0001
Snow_Fraction_Spectral_Under_Thin_Clouds_Day Snow/ice under thin clouds only (using spectral test, which cannot detect snow under thick clouds). Flag hardwired to snow over Antarctic land (day). 0 10000 0.0001
Snow_Fraction_Ancillary_Under_All_Clouds_Night Snow/ice under all clouds (using ancillary snowmask data, night). 0 10000 0.0001
Ocean_Fraction_Day
Ocean_Fraction_Night
Ocean, deep lakes, and deep rivers fraction in the successful CTP retrieval area for day and night. 0 10000 0.0001
Coast_Fraction_Day
Coast_Fraction_Night
Coast, shallow lakes, and shallow rivers fraction in the successful CTP retrieval area for day and night. 0 10000 0.0001
Desert_Fraction_Day
Desert_Fraction_Night
Desert fraction in the successful CTP retrieval area for day and night. 0 10000 0.0001
Land_Fraction_Day
Land_Fraction_Night
Land fraction in the successful CTP retrieval area for day and night. 0 10000 0.0001

Cloud optical properties

Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_Ice
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_Undetermined
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_Combined
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Optical_Thickness" and aggregated into cloud phase categories (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined) using the primary cloud retrieval phase flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_1km". Note that the liquid water and ice cloud parameters contain joint histograms vs. cloud effective radius, vs. cloud top temperature, vs. cloud top pressure, and vs. cloud effective emissivity (for ice clouds only). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_PCL_Ice
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_PCL_Undetermined
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_PCL_Combined
Optical thickness for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_Liquid
Cloud_Effective_Radius_Undetermined
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Effective_Radius" and aggregated into cloud phase categories (liquid water and undetermined) using the primary cloud retrieval phase flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_1km". Note that the liquid water and ice cloud parameters contain joint histograms vs. cloud top temperature and vs. cloud top pressure. Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_Ice Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Effective_Radius" and aggregated into cloud phase categories (ice) using the primary cloud retrieval phase flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_1km". Note that the liquid water and ice cloud parameters contain joint histograms vs. cloud top temperature and vs. cloud top pressure. Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Effective_Radius_PCL_Undetermined
Cloud effective particle radius for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and undetermined). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_PCL_Ice Cloud effective particle radius for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_Liquid
Cloud_Water_Path_Undetermined
Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Water_Path" and aggregated into cloud phase categories (liquid water and undetermined) using the primary cloud retrieval phase flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_1km". g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_Ice Derived from the 06_L2 SDS "Cloud_Water_Path" and aggregated into cloud phase categories (ice) using the primary cloud retrieval phase flag from the 06_L2 SDS "Quality_Assurance_1km". g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Water_Path_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Water_Path_PCL_Undetermined
Cloud water path for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and undetermined). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_PCL_Ice Cloud water path for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_Ice
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_Undetermined
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_Combined
Successful optical properties retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_PCL_Ice
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_PCL_Undetermined
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_PCL_Combined
Successful optical properties partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1L_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1L_Ice
Cloud optical thickness for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1L_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1L_Ice Cloud effective particle radius for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_1L_Liquid Cloud water path for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_1L_Ice Cloud water path for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1L_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1L_Ice
Clouds from successful optical properties retrievals for single layer clouds only per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_ML_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_ML_Ice
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_ML_Undetermined
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_ML_Combined
Clouds from successful optical properties retrievals for multi layer clouds only per cloud phase category (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined). 0 10000 0.0001
ML_Fraction_Liquid
ML_Fraction_Ice
ML_Fraction_Undetermined
ML_Fraction_Combined
Ratio of multi layer clouds to all same-phase clouds from successful optical properties retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water, ice, undetermined, and combined). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1621_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1621_Ice
Cloud optical thickness over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1621_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1621_Ice Cloud effective particle radius over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_1621_Liquid Cloud water path over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_1621_Ice Cloud water path over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1621_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1621_Ice
Clouds from successful supplementary optical properties retrievals over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1621_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_1621_PCL_Ice
Cloud optical thickness over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1621_PCL_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_1621_PCL_Ice Cloud effective particle radius over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_1621_PCL_Liquid Cloud water path over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_1621_PCL_Ice Cloud water path over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1621_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_1621_PCL_Ice
Clouds from successful supplementary optical properties retrievals over water/snow/ice derived from band 6 and 7 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_16_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_16_Ice
Cloud optical thickness from band 6 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_16_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius from band 6 per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_16_Ice Cloud effective particle radius from band 6 per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_16_Liquid Cloud water path from band 6 per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_16_Ice Cloud water path from band 6 per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_16_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_16_Ice
Clouds from band 6 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_16_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_16_PCL_Ice
Cloud optical thickness from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_16_PCL_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_16_PCL_Ice Cloud effective particle radius from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_16_PCL_Liquid Cloud water path from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_16_PCL_Ice Cloud water path from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_16_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_16_PCL_Ice
Clouds from band 6 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_37_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_37_Ice
Cloud optical thickness from band 20 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_37_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius from band 20 per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_37_Ice Cloud effective particle radius from band 20 per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_37_Liquid Cloud water path from band 20 per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_37_Ice Cloud water path from band 20 per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_37_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_37_Ice
Clouds from band 20 per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_37_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Optical_Thickness_37_PCL_Ice
Cloud optical thickness from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 15000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_37_PCL_Liquid Cloud effective particle radius from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). Microns 400 3000 0.01
Cloud_Effective_Radius_37_PCL_Ice Cloud effective particle radius from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). Microns 500 6000 0.01
Cloud_Water_Path_37_PCL_Liquid Cloud water path from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water). g/m^2 0 3000
Cloud_Water_Path_37_PCL_Ice Cloud water path from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (ice). g/m^2 0 6000
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_37_PCL_Liquid
Cloud_Retrieval_Fraction_37_PCL_Ice
Clouds from band 20 for partly cloudy retrievals per cloud phase category (liquid water and ice). 0 10000 0.0001

Atmosphere profile

Parameters derived from the L2 Atmosphere Profiles (07_L2) Product
Band Name Description Units Min Max Scale Offset
Total_Ozone Total ozone burden, derived from the 07_L2 SDS "Total_Ozone". Dobson Units 0 5000 0.1
Total_Totals Derived from the 07_L2 SDS "Total_Totals". K 0 8000 0.01
Lifted_Index Derived from the 07_L2 SDS "Lifted_Index". K -2000 4000 0.01
Atmospheric_Water_Vapor
Atmospheric_Water_Vapor_Low
Atmospheric_Water_Vapor_High
Derived from the 07_L2 SDS's "Water_Vapor, "Water_Vapor_Low", and "Water_Vapor_High", respectively. The keywords "low" and "high" refer to the lower and higher portions of the atmospheric column. Note that the parameter "water vapor" is also referred to as "precipitable water". cm 0 20000 0.001
Retrieved_Temperature_Profile Retrieved temperature profile at 20 (hPa) pressure levels: 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 620, 700, 780, 850, 920, 950, and 1000. K 0 20000 0.01 -15000

MOD08 Statistics List

Statistics for a given Level-2 measurement might include:

  • Primary statistics
    • Mean_Mean
    • Std_Deviation_Mean
  • QA weighted statistics
    • QA_Mean_Mean
    • QA_Std_Deviation_Mean
  • Mean and standard deviation of the fraction of pixels that satisfy some condition (e.g. cloudy, clear)
    • FMean
    • FStd
  • Parameters of Log-Normal Distributions
    • Log_Mean_Mean
    • Log_Std_Deviation_Mean
  • Uncertainty: multi-day absolute estimates derived from the daily absolute estimates
    • Mean_Uncertainty
    • Log_Mean_Uncertainty