MODIS official website: http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov /about/index.html
MODIS (or Moderate Resolution IMAGING SpectroraDiometer) IS A KEY INSTRUMENT ABOARD THE
Terra (EOS AM) and
Aqua (EOS PM) satellites. Terra's orbit around the Earth is timed so that it passes from north to south across the equator in the morning, while Aqua passes south to north over the equator in the afternoon. Terra MODIS and Aqua MODIS are viewing the entire Earth's surface every 1 to 2 days, acquiring data in 36 spectral bands, or groups of wavelengths (see MODIS Technical Specifications). These data will improve our understanding of global dynamics and processes occurring on the land, in the oceans, and in the lower atmosphere. MODIS is playing a vital role in the development of validated, global, interactive Earth system models able to predict global change accurately enough to assist policy makers in making sound decisions concerning the protection of our environment.
Modis is a key device on Terra and Aqua satellite. Terra has passed the equator from north every morning, and Aqua crosses the equator from the south every afternoon. Scan the whole earth surface once 1 ~ 2 days. 36 bands.
Technical Parameters:
MODIS Technical Specifications
Orbit: 705 km, 10:30 Am Descending Node (Terra) or 1:30 Pm Ascending Node (Aqua), Sun-Synchronous, Near-Polar, Circularscan Rate: 20.3 RPM, Cross TRACKSWATH DIMENSIONS: 2330 km (Cross Track) BY 10 km (along track at nadir) Telescope:. 17.78 cm diam off-axis, afocal (collimated), with intermediate field stopSize: 1.0 x 1.6 x 1.0 mWeight: 228.7 kgPower: 162.5 W (single orbit average) Data Rate: 10.6 Mbps (peak daytime); 6.1 Mbps (Orbital Average) Quantization: 12 BitssPatial Resolution: 250 m (Bands 1-2) 500 m (Bands 3-7) 1000 m (BANDS 8-36) Design Life: 6 Years
Primary UseBandBandwidth1Spectral Radiance2Required SNR3Land / Cloud / Aerosols Boundaries1620 - 67021.81282841 - 87624.7201Land / Cloud / Aerosols Properties3459 - 47935.32434545 - 56529.022851230 - 12505.47461628 - 16527.327572105 - 21551.0110Ocean Color / Phytoplankton / Biogeochemistry8405 - 42044.98809438 - 44841.983810483 - 49332.180211526 - 53627.975412546 - 55621.075013662 - 672 9.591014673 - 683 8.7108715743 - 75310.258616862 - 877 6.2516Atmospheric Water Vapor17890 - 92010.016718931 - 941 3.65719915 - 96515.0250Primary UseBandBandwidth1Spectral Radiance2Required NE [delta] T (K) 4Surface / Cloud Temperature203.660 - 3.8400.45 (300K) 0.05213.929 - 3.9892.38 (335K) 2.0023.929 - 3.9890.67 (300K) 0.07234.020 - 0.0800.79 (300K) 0.07TMospheric Temperature244.433 - 4.4980.17 (250K) 0.25254.482 - 4.5490.59 (275K) 0.25CIRUS Clouds Water Vapor261.360 - 1.3906.00150 (SNR) 276.535 - 6.8951.16 (240K) 0.25287.175 - 7.4752.18 (250K) 0.25Cloud Properties298.400 - 8.7009.58 (300K) 0.05OZone309.580 - 9.8803.69 (250K) 0.25surfac E / CLOUD TEMPERATURE3110.780 - 11.2809.55 (300K) 0.053211.770 - 0.05Cloud Top Altitude3313.185 - 13.4854.52 (260K) 0.253413.485 - 13.7853.76 (250K) 0.253513.785 - 14.0853.11 (240K) 0.253614.085 - 14.3852.08 (220K) 0.35
1 BANDS 1 To 19 Are In nm; Bands 20 To 36 Are IN μM 2 Spectral Radiance Values Are (W / M2-μm-Sr) 3 SNR = Signal-to-Noise Ratio 4 Ne (DELTA) T = Noise-Equivalent Temperature Difference Note: Performance Goal IS 30-40% Better Than Required
