Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

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Ash plumes on Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia. Ev26221 KlyuchevskayaSopka.A2004012.0035.500m.jpg
Ash plumes on Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia.
Hurricane Katrina near the Florida peninsula. Katrina 2005-08-26 1840Z.jpg
Hurricane Katrina near the Florida peninsula.
California wildfires. Modis Image of California Wildfires taken on October 22, 2007.jpg
California wildfires.
Solar irradiance spectrum and MODIS bands. MODIS ATM solar irradiance.svg
Solar irradiance spectrum and MODIS bands.
External view of the MODIS unit. MODIS-external.gif
External view of the MODIS unit.
Exploded view of the MODIS subsystems. Exploded View of MODIS Subsystems.gif
Exploded view of the MODIS subsystems.
This detailed, photo-like view of Earth is based largely on observations from MODIS. The Water Planet.jpg
This detailed, photo-like view of Earth is based largely on observations from MODIS.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is a satellite-based sensor used for earth and climate measurements. There are two MODIS sensors in Earth orbit: one on board the Terra (EOS AM) satellite, launched by NASA in 1999; and one on board the Aqua (EOS PM) satellite, launched in 2002. Since 2011, MODIS operations have been supplemented by VIIRS sensors, such as the one aboard Suomi NPP. The systems often conduct similar operations due to their similar designs and orbits (with VIIRS data systems designed to be compatible with MODIS), though they have subtle differences contributing to similar but not identical uses. [1] [2]

Contents

The MODIS instruments were built by Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. [3] They capture data in 36 spectral bands ranging in wavelength from 0.4 μm to 14.4 μm and at varying spatial resolutions (2 bands at 250 m, 5 bands at 500 m and 29 bands at 1 km). Together the instruments image the entire Earth every 1 to 2 days. They are designed to provide measurements in large-scale global dynamics including changes in Earth's cloud cover, radiation budget and processes occurring in the oceans, on land, and in the lower atmosphere.

Support and calibration is provided by the MODIS characterization support team (MCST). [4]

Applications

With its high temporal resolution although low spatial resolution, MODIS data are useful to track changes in the landscape over time. Examples of such applications are the monitoring of vegetation health by means of time-series analyses with vegetation indices, [5] long term land cover changes (e.g. to monitor deforestation rates), [6] [7] [8] [9] global snow cover trends, [10] [11] water inundation from pluvial, riverine, or sea level rise flooding in coastal areas, [12] change of water levels of major lakes such as the Aral Sea, [13] [14] and the detection and mapping of wildland fires in the United States. [15] The United States Forest Service's Remote Sensing Applications Center analyzes MODIS imagery on a continuous basis to provide information for the management and suppression of wildfires. [16]

Specifications

Specifications
Orbit705 km, 10:30 a.m. descending node (Terra) or 1:30 p.m. ascending node (Aqua), Sun-synchronous, near-polar, circular
Scan rate20.3 rpm, cross track
Swath2330 km (cross track) by 10 km (along track at nadir)
Dimensions
Telescope17.78 cm diam. off-axis, afocal (collimated), with intermediate field stop
Size1.0 × 1.6 × 1.0 m
Weight228.7 kg
Power162.5 W (single orbit average)
Data rate10.6 Mbit/s (peak daytime); 6.1 Mbit/s (orbital average)
Quantization12 bits
Spatial resolution250 m (bands 1–2) 500 m (bands 3–7) 1000 m (bands 8–36)
Temporal resolution1–2 days [17]
Design life6 years

Calibration

MODIS utilizes four on-board calibrators in addition to the space view in order to provide in-flight calibration: solar diffuser (SD), solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), spectral radiometric calibration assembly (SRCA), and a v-groove black body. [18] MODIS has used the marine optical buoy for vicarious calibration.

MODIS bands

Band Wavelength
(nm)		Resolution
(m)		Primary use
1620–670250Land/cloud/aerosols
boundaries
2841–876250
3459–479500Land/cloud/aerosols
properties
4545–565500
51230–1250500
61628–1652500
72105–2155500
8405–4201000 Ocean color/
phytoplankton/
biogeochemistry
9438–4481000
10483–4931000
11526–5361000
12546–5561000
13662–6721000
14673–6831000
15743–7531000
16862–8771000
17890–9201000Atmospheric
water vapor
18931–9411000
19915–9651000
Band Wavelength
(μm)		Resolution
(m)		Primary use
203.660–3.8401000Surface/cloud
temperature
213.929–3.9891000
223.929–3.9891000
234.020–4.0801000
244.433–4.4981000Atmospheric
temperature
254.482–4.5491000
261.360–1.3901000Cirrus clouds
water vapor
276.535–6.8951000
287.175–7.4751000
298.400–8.7001000Cloud properties
309.580–9.8801000Ozone
3110.780–11.2801000Surface/cloud
temperature
3211.770–12.2701000
3313.185–13.4851000Cloud top
altitude
3413.485–13.7851000
3513.785–14.0851000
3614.085–14.3851000

MODIS data

MODIS Level 3 datasets

The following MODIS Level 3 (L3) datasets are available from NASA, as processed by the Collection 5 software. [19]

Daily8-day16-day32-dayMonthlyYearlyGridPlatformDescription
MxD08_D3MxD08_E3——MxD08_M3—1° CMGTerra, AquaAerosol, cloud water vapor, ozone
MxD10A1MxD10A2————500 m SINTerra, AquaSnow cover
MxD11A1MxD11A2————1000 m SINTerra, AquaLand surface temperature/emissivity
MxD11B1—————6000 m SINTerra, AquaLand surface temperature/emissivity
MxD11C1MxD11C2——MxD11C3—0.05° CMGTerra, AquaLand surface temperature/emissivity
——MxD13C1—MxD13C2—0.05° CMGTerra, AquaVegetation indices
MxD14A1MxD14A2————1000 m SINTerra, AquaThermal anomalies, fire
————MCD45A1—500 m SINTerra+AquaBurned area
250 m SIN500 m SIN1000 m SIN0.05° CMG1° CMGTime windowPlatformDescription
MxD09Q1MxD09A1———8-dayTerra, AquaSurface reflectance
———MxD09CMG—DailyTerra, AquaSurface reflectance
—MCD12Q1—MCD12C1—YearlyTerra+AquaLand cover type
—MCD12Q2———YearlyTerra+AquaLand cover dynamics

(global vegetation phenology)

MxD13Q1MxD13A1MxD13A2MxD13C1—16-dayTerra, AquaVegetation indices
——MxD13A3MxD13C2—MonthlyTerra, AquaVegetation indices
—MCD43A1MCD43B1MCD43C1—16-dayTerra+Aqua BRDF/albedo model parameters
—MCD43A3MCD43B3MCD43C3—16-dayTerra+AquaAlbedo
—MCD43A4MCD43B4MCD43C4—16-dayTerra+AquaNadir BRDF-adjusted reflectance
Image based on observations from MODIS MODIS Map.jpg
Image based on observations from MODIS

See also

References

  1. ↑ NASA Earth Data. "VIIRS; Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite". NASA. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ↑ UN-SPIDER. "Detecting forest fires with satellites (MODIS and VIIRS)". UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "MODIS Components" . Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "MODIS Characterization Support Team" . Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  5. ↑ LU, L., KUENZER, C., WANG, C., GUO, H., Li, Q., 2015: Evaluation of three MODIS-derived Vegetation Index Time Series for Dry land Vegetation Dynamics Monitoring. Remote Sensing, 2015, 7, 7597–7614; doi:10.3390/rs70607597
  6. ↑ LEINENKUGEL; P., WOLTERS, M., OPPELT, N., KUENZER, C., 2014: Tree cover and forest cover dynamics in the Mekong Basin from 2001 to 2011. Remote Sensing of Environment, Vol. 158, 376–392
  7. ↑ KLEIN, I., GESSNER, U. and C. KUENZER, 2012: Regional land cover mapping in Central Asia using MODIS time series. Applied Geography 35, 1–16
  8. ↑ LU, L., KUENZER, C., GUO, H., Li, Q., LONG, T., LI, X., 2014: A Novel Land Cover Classification Map Based on MODIS Time-series in Nanjing, China. Remote Sensing, 6, 3387–3408; doi:10.3390/rs6043387
  9. ↑ GESSNER, U.; MACHWITZ, M.; ESCH, T.; TILLACK, A.; NAEIMI, V.; KUENZER, C.; DECH, S. (2015): Multi-sensor mapping of West African land cover using MODIS, ASAR and TanDEM-X/TerraSAR-X data. Remote Sensing of Environment. 282–297
  10. ↑ Hall, Dorothy K; Riggs, George A; Salomonson, Vincent V; DiGirolamo, Nicolo E; Bayr, Klaus J (2002). "MODIS snow-cover products". Remote Sensing of Environment. 83 (1–2): 181–194. Bibcode:2002RSEnv..83..181H. doi:10.1016/S0034-4257(02)00095-0. hdl: 2060/20010069265 . S2CID   129808147.
  11. ↑ Hall, Dorothy K.; Riggs, George A.; Salomonson, Vincent V. (1995). "Development of methods for mapping global snow cover using moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer data" . Remote Sensing of Environment. 54 (2): 127–140. Bibcode:1995RSEnv..54..127H. doi:10.1016/0034-4257(95)00137-P.
  12. ↑ KUENZER, C, KLEIN, I., ULLMANN; T., FOUFOULA-GEORGIOU, E., BAUMHAUER, R., DECH, S., 2015: Remote Sensing of River Delta Inundation: exploiting the Potential of coarse spatial Resolution, temporally-dense MODIS Time Series. Remote Sensing, 7, 8516–8542
  13. ↑ KLEIN, I., DIETZ, A., GESSNER, U., DECH, S., KUENZER, C., 2015: Results of the Global WaterPack: a novel product to assess inland water body dynamics on a daily basis. Remote Sensing Letters, Vol. 6, No. 1, 78–87
  14. ↑ "Shrinking Aral Sea." NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved: 30 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Wigglesworth, Alex (6 November 2019). "Satellite image shows Kincade fire burn scar". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  16. ↑ "MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program FAQs." Archived 2 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine United States Forest Service. Retrieved: 30 September 2014.
  17. ↑ NASA.gov
  18. ↑ "MODIS Design" . Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "MODIS Products Table". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.

Modis has 36 spectral bands

  1. ↑ "About Reverb". Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "LANCE-MODIS". NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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