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SAFARI 2000 AERONET-derived Diffuse Spectral Irradiance for Eight Core Sites

Metadata Updated: September 18, 2025

This data set contains monthly mean values of diffuse irradiance fraction [f(Ediff), or ratio of diffuse-to-total irradiance] at ground level for a 30-degree solar zenith angle and in seven spectral bands (MODIS bands 1-7) as well broadband visible (400-700 nm), near-infrared (700-3000 nm) and shortwave (400-3000 nm). Values are provided for eight SAFARI 2000 core sites, including Ghanzi/Okwa River Crossing, Maun (Main and Floodplain Towers), Pandamatenga, and Tshane, Botswana; Skukuza, South Africa; Etosha National Park, Namibia; and Mongu, Zambia. The fractions were estimated with the 6S radiative transfer model, given the mean aerosol optical depth (AOT) values from AERONET sunphotometer measurements. Where sunphotometers were not deployed at a SAFARI 2000 core site, the nearest neighbor sunphotometer data were used. A rough estimate of the likely spatial extrapolation error is provided. These data can be used to estimate typical surface albedo (blue sky conditions) from the theoretical black-sky and white-sky albedo values provided in the MODIS albedo product (MOD43), as well as in other applications.Data for all eight sites are contained in one ASCII file, in csv format. The data file provides the ratio of diffuse (atmospherically-scattered) irradiance to total irradiance, both at ground level, for the eight sites in southern Africa. Mean values are provided for each of 12 months in 10 spectral bands between 0.4 and 4.0 microns, computed for a 30-degree solar zenith angle. The native resolution of the AERONET sunphotometer data varies, but is typically less than 1 hour. Information about the site location, IGBP classification, and nearest AERONET sunphotometer site is also provided.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 18, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from NASA Data.json

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 18, 2025
Publisher ORNL_DAAC
Maintainer
Identifier 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/791
Data Last Modified 2025-09-11
Category Earth Science
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 026:00
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id a47f84c6-e12b-4678-b6b3-a59040bfed3c
Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
Homepage URL https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/search?q=diffuse_irradiance_791&ac=true
Old Spatial {"WestBoundingCoordinate":15.9144,"NorthBoundingCoordinate":-15.4389,"EastBoundingCoordinate":31.4969,"SouthBoundingCoordinate":-25.0197},"CARTESIAN"
Program Code 026:000
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 1adfe5c2d94571e078840cd3335de23d633884a8872b2fc1427f74d57f7c337f
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial
Temporal 2000-01-01/2000-01-01

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