MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

- Aboard the Terra (EOS AM-1) and Aqua (EOS PM-1) satellite launched in December 18, 1999

Purpose– is to provide a comprehensive series of global observations of the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum in such a way as to view the entire surface of the Earth every two days.

Observations:

- Cloud cover

Atmosphere - Aerosol concentration and optical properties

- Cloud Properties

- Vegetation and land-surface

Land Surface - Snow and sea-ice cover and reflectance.

- Surface temperature

- Ocean color

Oceanic - Concentration of chlorophyll- a

- Chlorophyll fluorescence

Orbit – 705 km sun-synchronous orbit – 10:30 a.m. descending node (Terra) or 1:30 p.m. ascending node (Aqua); views entire surface of Earth in 1-2 days.

View – ± 55° off nadir

Swath width of 2,330 km

36 spectral bands between 0.405 and 14.385 µm

3 spatial resolutions: 250 m (bands 1-2)

500 m (bands 3-7)

1000 m (bands 8-36)

Data – directly broadcasts data from satellite

Images can be ordered and searched for at

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/MODIS/MODIS.html --- “Data” page

Sources –

Jensen, J.R., 2000, “Remote Sensing of the Environment.” New Jersey, Prentice Hall, p.231-232.

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/MODIS/MODIS.html