Overview
The MODIS Cloud Product combines infrared and visible techniques to determine both physical and radiative cloud properties. Daily global Level 2 data are provided. Cloud-particle phase (ice vs. water, clouds vs. snow), effective cloud-particle radius, and cloud optical thickness are derived using the MODIS visible and near-infrared channel radiances. An indication of cloud shadows affecting the scene is also provided. Cloud-top temperature, height, effective emissivity, phase (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque), and cloud fraction are produced by the infrared retrieval methods both day and night at 5x5 1-km-pixel resolution. Finally, the MODIS Cloud Product includes the cirrus reflectance in the visible at the 1-km-pixel resolution, which is useful for removing cirrus scattering effects from the land-surface reflectance product. There are two MODIS Cloud data product files: MOD06_L2, containing data collected from the Terra platform; and MYD06_L2, containing data collected from the Aqua platform.
Product Information
• Cloud Optical Properties PI:
• Cloud Top Properties PI:
• Validated Stage: Stage 2
• ATBDs
• DOI:
Platnick, S., S. A. Ackerman, M. D. King, K. Meyer, W. P. Menzel, R. E. Holz, B. A. Baum, and P. Yang, 2015: MODIS atmosphere L2 cloud product (06_L2), NASA MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Goddard Space Flight Center
dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD06_L2.006 (Terra)
dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MYD06_L2.006 (Aqua)
Product Details
All of the MODIS Cloud Data Products can be found at the LAADS Web website.