The Cloud Product monitors the physical and radiative properties of clouds including cloud particle phase (ice vs. water, clouds vs. snow), effective cloud particle radius, cloud optical thickness, cloud shadow effects, cloud top temperature, cloud top height, effective emissivity, cloud phase (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque), and cloud fraction under both daytime and nighttime conditions. The ESDT names are MOD06_L2 (Terra) and MYD06_L2 (Aqua).
L3 COSP Cloud Properties Sample Downloadable File
(NetCDF 4 Format)
Given below is a sample NetCDF4 data file for the Monthly MODIS Standard (Combined Terra+Aqua) COSP product for July 2021.
Download Sample NetCDF4 MODIS Standard COSP file (2022 Version)
L3 COSP Cloud Properties Documentation
Product User Guide
L3 MCD06 COSP Cloud Properties User Guide [v2.0, 10/27//2022] View PDF
Version 2.0, October 2022
Hubanks, Pincus, Platnick, Meyer
L3 COSP Cloud Properties File Specification
(Common Data Language (CDL) Format)
The link below allows one to download and view the complete Common Data Language (CDL) file specification. This file spec gives a complete description of the Collection 6.2 MODIS Monthly COSP (MCD06COSP_L3) NetCDF4 product file, including all the Groups and Variables, as well as their local attributes.
Introduction to COSP
MODIS (Aqua/Terra) Cloud Properties Level 3 daily, 1x1 degree grid: Web Reference
Important: A newer, fixed version of MCD06COSP is available (2022 processing date and now tagged as Collection 6.2)
L2 CLDPROP (Cloud Properties) Format & Content
The PDF link below allows one to download and view the complete SDS Inventory Table for the L2 Cloud Properties (CLDPROP_L2) product. This PDF table provides a full accounting of the Groups and Variables in the L2 CLDPROP Continuity Product File. The inline JPG image which is basically just a screen-capture of the top part (the beginning) of the PDF Table, is provided for an easier initial view -- however to see the full listing, one must download/view the PDF attachment.
L3 CLDPROP (Cloud Properties) Data Acquisition
L2 CLDPROP (Cloud Properties) Data Acquisition
L2 CLDPROP (Cloud Properties) DOI Reference
Dataset Short Name:
CLDPROP_L2_MODIS_Aqua (MODIS Instrument / Aqua Platform)
CLDPROP_L2_VIIRS_SNPP (VIIRS Instrument / SNPP Platform)
Dataset Long Name:
Continuity MODIS/Aqua Level-2 (L2) Cloud Properties Product
Continuity VIIRS/SNPP Level-2 (L2) Cloud Properties Product
L2 CLDPROP (Cloud Properties) File Name Convention
Continuity Atmosphere Product NetCDF4 files are named using a standardized convention as displayed below.
Note that for the filename sample shown below:
Tracking of known problems and subsequent fixes is an important issue for Continuity Atmosphere data users. This page will act as a repository of all known Continuity Atmosphere Data Product problems, as well as how to determine the problematic version (and the fixed version if available) of the NetCDF4 data -- therefore data users should check this page for updates regularly.