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Full catalog/VNP03MODLL
VNP03MODLL·v002·dataset

Where each image pixel sits on Earth (VIIRS, Suomi-NPP, lite)

VIIRS/NPP Moderate Resolution Terrain Corrected Geolocation 6-Min L1 Swath 750m Light V002
land NASA LPCLOUD Level 1A active HDF-EOS5
In plain English

What it measures. This is a lightweight location file for VIIRS imagery, storing just the latitude, longitude and surface height for each 750-meter pixel.

How it's made. Calculated for the Suomi-NPP VIIRS sensor by combining the satellite's line of sight with an Earth shape model and an elevation map, producing terrain-corrected ground coordinates.

How & where you'd use it. It supplies accurate locations for partnering VIIRS products such as the active-fire product; it is a behind-the-scenes input rather than a product viewed on its own.

What's measured

SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING › SENSOR CHARACTERISTICS › GEOLOCATION

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2012-01-17 → ongoing
  • Measured bySuomi-NPP (VIIRS)
  • Processing levelLevel 1A
  • Spatial extent-180, -90, 180, 90
  • FormatsHDF-EOS5
  • StatusACTIVE

What you can do with it

  • Track deforestation, fire scars and land-cover change
  • Monitor crop and vegetation health (NDVI/EVI)
  • Map how built-up vs. green an area is over time
Official description

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Moderate Resolution Terrain Correction Geolocation (VNP03MODLL) Version 2 product from the NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) VIIRS sensor is produced in 6 minute temporal satellite increments (swaths) at 750 meter resolution. Intersecting the VIIRS line of sight vector with Earth’s geoid and the World Geodetic System (WGS) ellipsoid, this product is based on the SRTM30 Version 2 digital elevation model (DEM), which uses GTOPO30 data for areas from 60° North to 60° South. VNP03MODLL is a terrain correction geolocation product that provides the spatial location for various VIIRS data products. Each swath of data is approximately 3,060 kilometers along track (long) and 3,060 kilometers across track (wide). Provided in the VNP03MODLL product are layers for height, latitude, and longitude. These Science Data Sets (SDS) layers / Variables are used in conjunction with the [VNP14](https://doi.org/10.5067/viirs/vnp14.002) swath product for accurate geolocation information. Known Issues * For complete information about known issues please refer to the [MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment website](https://landweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/knownissue?sensor=VIIRS).

Get the data

vnp03modll_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="VNP03MODLL",
    version="002",
    bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9),  # your area (W,S,E,N)
    temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"),       # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results)   # stream straight from LPCLOUD
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.