MODIS/Terra Land Water Mask Derived from MODIS and SRTM L3 Global 250m SIN Grid V006

The MOD44W Version 6 data product was decommissioned on July 18, 2024. Users are encouraged to use the MOD44W Version 6.1 data product (https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD44W.061).The Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Water Mask (MOD44W) Version 6 data product provides a global map of surface water at 250 meter (m) spatial resolution. The data are available annually from 2000 to 2015. MOD44W Version 6 is derived using a decision tree classifier trained with MODIS data and validated with the Version 5 MOD44W data product. A series of masks are applied to address known issues caused by terrain shadow, burn scars, cloudiness, or ice cover in oceans. A primary improvement in Version 6 is the generation of time series data rather than a simple static representation of water, given that water bodies fluctuate in size and location over time due to both natural and anthropogenic causes. Provided in each MOD44W Version 6 Hierarchical Data Format 4 (HDF4) file are layers for land, water, no data, and an associated per pixel quality assurance (QA) layer that provides users with information on the determination of water. Known Issues* The mask area for pixels outside of the Sinusoidal Grid for tile h27v14 should be labeled as 250 (Outside of Projection) instead of 0 (Land) and the QA values should be 10 (Fill) instead of 3 (Lower confidence land) for years 2000 through 2015.* Additional known issues are described in the User Guide and ATBD.* For complete information about known issues please refer to the [MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment website](https://landweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/knownissue?sensor=MODIS&sat=Terra&as=6).Improvements/Changes from Previous Versions* Corrected for errors of many misplaced rivers in South America due to limited spatial resolution of previously used input data.* Improved data in the far northern latitudes.* Water extent provided as a time series that can be used to detect changes between 2000 and 2015.* Increased spatial resolution of 250 m. The Version 5 product was 500 m.* Improved terrain shadows with slope and elevation masking.* Burned areas (scars) delineated.

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  "026:00"
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  "Earth Science"
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