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Format & Content

Figures showing MODIS Products are stored in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF)Atm. Profile Product (07_L2) File Format Basics

Cloud (06_L2) Product files are stored in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF). HDF is a multi-object file format for sharing scientific data in multi-platform distributed environments. HDF files should only be accessed through HDF library subroutine and function calls, which can be downloaded from the HDF web site. Each of the parameters listed below is stored as a Scientific Data Set (SDS) within the HDF file.

Atm. Profile Product (07_L2) Scientific Data Sets 
(Primary SDS's only, not a complete list)

Dimension List

MOD07_L2 Dimension List 

  • Cell_Along_Swath = 406 (typical)
  • Cell_Across_Swath = 270 (typical)
  • Band_Number = 15
  • Pressure_Level = 20
  • Output_Parameter = 10
  • Water_Vapor_QA_Bytes = 5


MOD07_L2 Scientific Data Set (SDS) List 

Geolocation and Time Parameters

  • Latitude
    Description: Geodetic Latitude
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -90 to +90 degrees north
  • Longitude
    Description: Geodetic Longitude
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -180 to +180 degrees east
  • Scan_Start_Time
    Description: International Atomic Time at Start of Scan replicated across the Swath
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0.0 to 3.1558E+9 seconds since 1 January 1993 00:00:00

Solar and Viewing Geometry Parameters

  • Solar_Zenith
    Description: Solar Zenith Angle, Cell to Sun
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to +180 degrees
  • Solar_Azimuth
    Description: Solar Azimuth Angle, Cell to Sun
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -180 to +180 degrees
  • Sensor_Zenith
    Description: Sensor Zenith Angle, Cell to Sensor
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 180 degrees
  • Sensor_Azimuth
    Description: Sensor Azimuth Angle, Cell to Sensor
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -180 to 180 degrees

Science Parameters

  • Brightness_Temperature
    Description: Brightness Temperature
    Dimensions: (Band_Number, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Skin_Temperature
    Description: Surface_Temperature
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Surface_Pressure
    Description: Surface_Pressure
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 800 to 1100 hPa
  • Surface_Elevation
    Description: Surface_Elevation
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -400 to 8840 meters
  • Processing_Flag
    Description: Processing_Flag
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: byte array
  • Tropopause_Height
    Description: Tropopause_Height
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 1 to 1100 hPa
  • Guess_Temperature_Profile
    Description: Guess_Temperature_Profile
    Dimensions: (Pressure_Level, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Guess_Moisture_Profile
    Description: Guess Dew Point Temperature Profile
    Dimensions: (Pressure_Level, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Retrieved_Temperature_Profile
    Description: Retrieved Temperature Profile
    Dimensions: (Pressure_Level, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Retrieved_Moisture_Profile
    Description: Retrieved Dew Point Temperature Profile
    Dimensions: (Pressure_Level, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 150 to 350 K
  • Retrieved_Height_Profile
    Description: Retrieved Geopotential Height Profile
    Dimensions: (Pressure_Level, Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 65000 meters
  • Total_Ozone
    Description: Total Ozone Burden
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 500 Dobson units
  • Total_Totals
    Description: Total Totals
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 80 K
  • Lifted_Index
    Description: Lifted Index
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: -20 to 40 K
  • K_Index
    Description: K Index
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 268 to 340 K
  • Water_Vapor
    Description: Total Column Precipitable Water Vapor - IR Retrieval
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 20 cm
  • Water_Vapor_Direct
    Description: Total Column Precipitable Water Vapor - Direct IR Retrieval
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 20 cm
  • Water_Vapor_Low
    Description: Precipitable Water Vapor Low - IR Retrieval
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 20 cm
  • Water_Vapor_High
    Description: Precipitable Water Vapor High - IR Retrieval
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: 0 to 20 cm

Quality Assurance

  • Quality_Assurance
    Description: Quality Assurance Parameters
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath, Output_Parameter)
    Valid Range: bit field
  • Quality_Assurance_Infrared
    Description: Runtime Quality Assurance Flags for Water_Vapor_Infrared
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath, Water_Vapor_QA_Bytes)
    Valid Range: bit field

Cloud Mask

  • Cloud_Mask
    Description: MODIS Cloud Mask , First Byte
    Dimensions: (Cell_Along_Swath, Cell_Across_Swath)
    Valid Range: bit field
    Flag Interpretation:
     

Cloud_Mask Bit-Field Interpretation

Byte #0

(1km Cloud Mask & Processing Path Flags)

Bits

Field Description

Bit Interpretation Key

0

Cloud Mask Flag

0=Not Determined

1 = Determined

1-2

Unobstructed FOV Quality Flag

0 = Confident Cloudy

1 = Probably Cloudy

2 = Probably Clear

3 = Confident Clear

3

Day/Night Flag

0 = Night
1 = Day

4

Sunglint Flag

0 = Yes
1 = No

5

Snow/Ice Background Flag

0 = Yes
1 = No

6-7

Land/Water Background

0 =Water

1 = Coastal 

2 = Desert 

3 = Land

MOD07_L2 VData (Tables) List 

  • Band_Number
    Description: MODIS Band Number
    Dimensions: (Band_Number)
    Data Values: 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
  • Pressure_Level
    Description: Pressure Levels of Profiles
    Dimensions: (Band_Number)
    Data Values: 05., 10., 20., 30., 50., 70., 100., 150., 200., 250., 300., 400., 500., 620., 700., 780., 850., 920., 950., 1000.
    Units: hPa