Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Arctic Monthly Surface Temperature Dataset (2003-2024)

The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Arctic Monthly Surface Temperature Dataset provides comprehensive surface temperature observations across the Arctic region from 2003 to 2024. This dataset integrates multiple MODIS-derived temperature products to create spatially and temporally consistent monthly composites covering land, sea ice, and ocean surfaces north of 60°N (degrees North) latitude. The dataset employs a systematic aggregation approach to combine observations from NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Terra and Aqua satellite platforms, synthesizing land surface temperature (LST), sea ice surface temperature (IST), and sea surface temperature (SST) retrievals into unified monthly products. Each monthly composite contains five scientific data layers: valid pixel count, maximum surface temperature, mean surface temperature, minimum surface temperature, and surface temperature standard deviation, providing both primary temperature measurements and associated statistical metrics for quality assessment and uncertainty quantification. The products are gridded to the NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center) Sea Ice Polar Stereographic North projection at 1-kilometer spatial resolution, ensuring minimal distortion across high-latitude regions while maintaining compatibility with other Arctic monitoring datasets. The temporal span of 22 years with monthly temporal resolution enables robust analysis of seasonal cycles, interannual variability, and long-term trends in Arctic surface temperatures.