MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board the Terra (EOS AM) Satellite, and in 2002 on board the Aqua (EOS PM) satellite. The instruments 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.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Orbit | 705 km, 10:30 a.m. descending node (Terra) or 1:30 p.m. ascending node (Aqua), sun-synchronous, near-polar, circular |
| Scan Rate | 20.3 rpm, cross track |
| Swath | 2330 km (cross track) by 10 km (along track at nadir) |
| Dimensions | |
| Telescope | 17.78 cm diam. off-axis, afocal (collimated), with intermediate field stop |
| Size | 1.0 x 1.6 x 1.0 m |
| Weight | 228.7 kg |
| Power | 162.5 W (single orbit average) |
| Data Rate | 10.6 Mbit/s (peak daytime); 6.1 Mbit/s (orbital average) |
| Quantization | 12 bits |
| Spatial Resolution | 250 m (bands 1-2) 500 m (bands 3-7) 1000 m (bands 8-36) |
| Design Life | 6 years |
MODIS Bands
| Band | Wavelength (nm) |
Resolution (m) |
Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 620-670 | 250m | Land/Cloud/Aerosols Boundaries |
| 2 | 841-876 | 250m | |
| 3 | 459-479 | 500m | Land/Cloud/Aerosols Properties |
| 4 | 545-565 | 500m | |
| 5 | 1230-1250 | 500m | |
| 6 | 1628-1652 | 500m | |
| 7 | 2105-2155 | 500m | |
| 8 | 405-420 | 1000m | Ocean Color/ Phytoplankton/ Biogeochemistry |
| 9 | 438-448 | 1000m | |
| 10 | 483-493 | 1000m | |
| 11 | 526-536 | 1000m | |
| 12 | 546-556 | 1000m | |
| 13 | 662-672 | 1000m | |
| 14 | 673-683 | 1000m | |
| 15 | 743-753 | 1000m | |
| 16 | 862-877 | 1000m | |
| 17 | 890-920 | 1000m | Atmospheric Water Vapor |
| 18 | 931-941 | 1000m | |
| 19 | 915-965 | 1000m | |
| Band | Wavelength (µm) |
Resolution (m) |
Primary Use |
| 20 | 3.660-3.840 | 1000m | Surface/Cloud Temperature |
| 21 | 3.929-3.989 | 1000m | |
| 22 | 3.929-3.989 | 1000m | |
| 23 | 4.020-4.080 | 1000m | |
| 24 | 4.433-4.498 | 1000m | Atmospheric Temperature |
| 25 | 4.482-4.549 | 1000m | |
| 26 | 1.360-1.390 | 1000m | Cirrus Clouds Water Vapor |
| 27 | 6.535-6.895 | 1000m | |
| 28 | 7.175-7.475 | 1000m | |
| 29 | 8.400-8.700 | 1000m | Cloud Properties |
| 30 | 9.580-9.880 | 1000m | Ozone |
| 31 | 10.780-11.280 | 1000m | Surface/Cloud Temperature |
| 32 | 11.770-12.270 | 1000m | |
| 33 | 13.185-13.485 | 1000m | Cloud Top Altitude |
| 34 | 13.485-13.785 | 1000m | |
| 35 | 13.785-14.085 | 1000m | |
| 36 | 14.085-14.385 | 1000m |
See also
External links
- Official NASA site
- MODIS Images of the Day
- MODIS Images of the Day as Google gadget
- Visible Earth: Latest MODIS images
- MODIS Rapid Response system (Near Real Time images)
- NASA OnEarth (Web service for MODIS imagery)
- Flash Earth (Daily MODIS Terra images available in a zoomable Flash interface)
- MODIS Land Product Subsetting Tool for North America from Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- MODIS bands and spectral ranges