Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices

Multi-angle remote sensing observations play an important role in the remote sensing of solar radiation absorbed by land surfaces. Currently, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) teams have successively applied the Ross–Li ke...

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Main Authors: Chenxia Wang, Ziti Jiao, Yaowei Feng, Jing Guo, Zhilong Li, Ge Gao, Zheyou Tan, Fangwen Yang, Sizhe Chen, Xin Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1803
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author Chenxia Wang
Ziti Jiao
Yaowei Feng
Jing Guo
Zhilong Li
Ge Gao
Zheyou Tan
Fangwen Yang
Sizhe Chen
Xin Dong
author_facet Chenxia Wang
Ziti Jiao
Yaowei Feng
Jing Guo
Zhilong Li
Ge Gao
Zheyou Tan
Fangwen Yang
Sizhe Chen
Xin Dong
author_sort Chenxia Wang
collection DOAJ
description Multi-angle remote sensing observations play an important role in the remote sensing of solar radiation absorbed by land surfaces. Currently, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) teams have successively applied the Ross–Li kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model to integrate multi-angle observations to produce long time series BRDF model parameter products (MCD43 and VNP43), which can be used for the inversion of various surface parameters and the angle correction of remote sensing data. Even though the MODIS and VIIRS BRDF products originate from sensors and algorithms with similar designs, the consistency between BRDF parameters for different sensors is still unknown, and this likely affects the consistency and accuracy of various downstream parameter inversions. In this study, we applied BRDF model parameter time-series data from the overlapping period of the MODIS and VIIRS services to systematically analyze the temporal and spatial differences between the BRDF parameters and derived indices of the two sensors from the site scale to the region scale in the red band and NIR band, respectively. Then, we analyzed the sensitivity of the BRDF parameters to variations in Normalized Difference Hotspot–Darkspot (NDHD) and examined the spatiotemporal distribution of zero-valued pixels in the BRDF parameter products generated by the constraint method in the Ross–Li model from both sensors, assessing their potential impact on NDHD derivation. The results confirm that among the three BRDF parameters, the isotropic scattering parameters of MODIS and VIIRS are more consistent, whereas the volumetric and geometric-optical scattering parameters are more sensitive and variable; this performance is more pronounced in the red band. The indices derived from the MODIS and VIIRS BRDF parameters were compared, revealing increasing discrepancies between the albedo and typical directional reflectance and the NDHD. The isotropic scattering parameter and the volumetric scattering parameter show responses that are very sensitive to increases in the equal interval of the NDHD, indicating that the differences between the MODIS and VIIRS products may strongly influence the consistency of NDHD estimation. In addition, both MODIS and VIIRS have a large proportion of zero-valued pixels (volumetric and geometric-optical parameter layers), whereas the spatiotemporal distribution of zero-valued pixels in VIIRS is more widespread. While the zero-valued pixels have a minor influence on reflectance and albedo estimation, such pixels should be considered with attention to the estimation accuracy of the vegetation angular index, which relies heavily on anisotropic characteristics, e.g., the NDHD. This study reveals the need in optimizing the Clumping Index (CI)-NDHD algorithm to produce VIIRS CI product and highlights the importance of considering BRDF product quality flags for users in their specific applications. The method used in this study also helps improve the theoretical framework for cross-sensor product consistency assessment and clarify the uncertainty in high-precision ecological monitoring and various remote sensing applications.
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spelling doaj-art-6d3d481ff9ff4b5e9c6371b08922dbd72025-08-20T02:32:37ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-05-011711180310.3390/rs17111803Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived IndicesChenxia Wang0Ziti Jiao1Yaowei Feng2Jing Guo3Zhilong Li4Ge Gao5Zheyou Tan6Fangwen Yang7Sizhe Chen8Xin Dong9State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaMulti-angle remote sensing observations play an important role in the remote sensing of solar radiation absorbed by land surfaces. Currently, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) teams have successively applied the Ross–Li kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model to integrate multi-angle observations to produce long time series BRDF model parameter products (MCD43 and VNP43), which can be used for the inversion of various surface parameters and the angle correction of remote sensing data. Even though the MODIS and VIIRS BRDF products originate from sensors and algorithms with similar designs, the consistency between BRDF parameters for different sensors is still unknown, and this likely affects the consistency and accuracy of various downstream parameter inversions. In this study, we applied BRDF model parameter time-series data from the overlapping period of the MODIS and VIIRS services to systematically analyze the temporal and spatial differences between the BRDF parameters and derived indices of the two sensors from the site scale to the region scale in the red band and NIR band, respectively. Then, we analyzed the sensitivity of the BRDF parameters to variations in Normalized Difference Hotspot–Darkspot (NDHD) and examined the spatiotemporal distribution of zero-valued pixels in the BRDF parameter products generated by the constraint method in the Ross–Li model from both sensors, assessing their potential impact on NDHD derivation. The results confirm that among the three BRDF parameters, the isotropic scattering parameters of MODIS and VIIRS are more consistent, whereas the volumetric and geometric-optical scattering parameters are more sensitive and variable; this performance is more pronounced in the red band. The indices derived from the MODIS and VIIRS BRDF parameters were compared, revealing increasing discrepancies between the albedo and typical directional reflectance and the NDHD. The isotropic scattering parameter and the volumetric scattering parameter show responses that are very sensitive to increases in the equal interval of the NDHD, indicating that the differences between the MODIS and VIIRS products may strongly influence the consistency of NDHD estimation. In addition, both MODIS and VIIRS have a large proportion of zero-valued pixels (volumetric and geometric-optical parameter layers), whereas the spatiotemporal distribution of zero-valued pixels in VIIRS is more widespread. While the zero-valued pixels have a minor influence on reflectance and albedo estimation, such pixels should be considered with attention to the estimation accuracy of the vegetation angular index, which relies heavily on anisotropic characteristics, e.g., the NDHD. This study reveals the need in optimizing the Clumping Index (CI)-NDHD algorithm to produce VIIRS CI product and highlights the importance of considering BRDF product quality flags for users in their specific applications. The method used in this study also helps improve the theoretical framework for cross-sensor product consistency assessment and clarify the uncertainty in high-precision ecological monitoring and various remote sensing applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1803BRDFMODISVIIRSHotspot reflectanceBSAWSA
spellingShingle Chenxia Wang
Ziti Jiao
Yaowei Feng
Jing Guo
Zhilong Li
Ge Gao
Zheyou Tan
Fangwen Yang
Sizhe Chen
Xin Dong
Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
Remote Sensing
BRDF
MODIS
VIIRS
Hotspot reflectance
BSA
WSA
title Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
title_full Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
title_fullStr Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
title_short Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS BRDF Parameter Differences and Their Impacts on the Derived Indices
title_sort evaluation of modis and viirs brdf parameter differences and their impacts on the derived indices
topic BRDF
MODIS
VIIRS
Hotspot reflectance
BSA
WSA
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1803
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