






TheModerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is a satellite-based sensor used for earth and climate measurements. There are two MODIS sensors inEarth orbit: one on board theTerra (EOS AM) satellite, launched byNASA in 1999; and one on board theAqua (EOS PM) satellite, launched in 2002. Since 2011, MODIS operations have been supplemented byVIIRS sensors, such as the one aboardSuomi 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]
The MODIS instruments were built by Santa Barbara Remote Sensing.[3] They capture data in 36 spectral bands ranging in wavelength from 0.4μm 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'scloud cover,radiation budget and processes occurring in the oceans, on land, and in thelower atmosphere.
Support and calibration is provided by the MODIS characterization support team (MCST).[4]
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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, orsea level rise flooding in coastal areas,[12] change of water levels of major lakes such as theAral Sea,[13][14] and the detection and mapping ofwildland fires in the United States.[15] TheUnited 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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 × 1.6 × 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) |
| Temporal resolution | 1–2 days[17] |
| Design life | 6 years |
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-grooveblack body.[18] MODIS has used themarine optical buoy for vicarious calibration.
| Band | Wavelength (nm) | Resolution (m) | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 620–670 | 250 | Land/cloud/aerosols boundaries |
| 2 | 841–876 | 250 | |
| 3 | 459–479 | 500 | Land/cloud/aerosols properties |
| 4 | 545–565 | 500 | |
| 5 | 1230–1250 | 500 | |
| 6 | 1628–1652 | 500 | |
| 7 | 2105–2155 | 500 | |
| 8 | 405–420 | 1000 | Ocean color/ phytoplankton/ biogeochemistry |
| 9 | 438–448 | 1000 | |
| 10 | 483–493 | 1000 | |
| 11 | 526–536 | 1000 | |
| 12 | 546–556 | 1000 | |
| 13 | 662–672 | 1000 | |
| 14 | 673–683 | 1000 | |
| 15 | 743–753 | 1000 | |
| 16 | 862–877 | 1000 | |
| 17 | 890–920 | 1000 | Atmospheric water vapor |
| 18 | 931–941 | 1000 | |
| 19 | 915–965 | 1000 | |
| Band | Wavelength (μm) | Resolution (m) | Primary use |
| 20 | 3.660–3.840 | 1000 | Surface/cloud temperature |
| 21 | 3.929–3.989 | 1000 | |
| 22 | 3.929–3.989 | 1000 | |
| 23 | 4.020–4.080 | 1000 | |
| 24 | 4.433–4.498 | 1000 | Atmospheric temperature |
| 25 | 4.482–4.549 | 1000 | |
| 26 | 1.360–1.390 | 1000 | Cirrus clouds water vapor |
| 27 | 6.535–6.895 | 1000 | |
| 28 | 7.175–7.475 | 1000 | |
| 29 | 8.400–8.700 | 1000 | Cloud properties |
| 30 | 9.580–9.880 | 1000 | Ozone |
| 31 | 10.780–11.280 | 1000 | Surface/cloud temperature |
| 32 | 11.770–12.270 | 1000 | |
| 33 | 13.185–13.485 | 1000 | Cloud top altitude |
| 34 | 13.485–13.785 | 1000 | |
| 35 | 13.785–14.085 | 1000 | |
| 36 | 14.085–14.385 | 1000 |
The following MODIS Level 3 (L3) datasets are available from NASA, as processed by the Collection 5 software.[19]
| Daily | 8-day | 16-day | 32-day | Monthly | Yearly | Grid | Platform | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MxD08_D3 | MxD08_E3 | — | — | MxD08_M3 | — | 1° CMG | Terra, Aqua | Aerosol, cloud water vapor, ozone |
| MxD10A1 | MxD10A2 | — | — | — | — | 500 m SIN | Terra, Aqua | Snow cover |
| MxD11A1 | MxD11A2 | — | — | — | — | 1000 m SIN | Terra, Aqua | Land surface temperature/emissivity |
| MxD11B1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6000 m SIN | Terra, Aqua | Land surface temperature/emissivity |
| MxD11C1 | MxD11C2 | — | — | MxD11C3 | — | 0.05° CMG | Terra, Aqua | Land surface temperature/emissivity |
| — | — | MxD13C1 | — | MxD13C2 | — | 0.05° CMG | Terra, Aqua | Vegetation indices |
| MxD14A1 | MxD14A2 | — | — | — | — | 1000 m SIN | Terra, Aqua | Thermal anomalies, fire |
| — | — | — | — | MCD45A1 | — | 500 m SIN | Terra+Aqua | Burned area |
| 250 m SIN | 500 m SIN | 1000 m SIN | 0.05° CMG | 1° CMG | Time window | Platform | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MxD09Q1 | MxD09A1 | — | — | — | 8-day | Terra, Aqua | Surface reflectance |
| — | — | — | MxD09CMG | — | Daily | Terra, Aqua | Surface reflectance |
| — | MCD12Q1 | — | MCD12C1 | — | Yearly | Terra+Aqua | Land cover type |
| — | MCD12Q2 | — | — | — | Yearly | Terra+Aqua | Land cover dynamics (global vegetationphenology) |
| MxD13Q1 | MxD13A1 | MxD13A2 | MxD13C1 | — | 16-day | Terra, Aqua | Vegetation indices |
| — | — | MxD13A3 | MxD13C2 | — | Monthly | Terra, Aqua | Vegetation indices |
| — | MCD43A1 | MCD43B1 | MCD43C1 | — | 16-day | Terra+Aqua | BRDF/albedo model parameters |
| — | MCD43A3 | MCD43B3 | MCD43C3 | — | 16-day | Terra+Aqua | Albedo |
| — | MCD43A4 | MCD43B4 | MCD43C4 | — | 16-day | Terra+Aqua | Nadir BRDF-adjusted reflectance |

"FTP link".ladsftp.nascom.nasa.gov (FTP).[dead ftp link](To view documents seeHelp:FTP) – LAADS underlyingFTP server;http://e4ftl01.cr.usgs.gov/ – Earth land surface datasets;"FTP link".n4ftl01u.ecs.nasa.gov (FTP).[dead ftp link](To view documents seeHelp:FTP) – snow and ice datasets.Modis has 36 spectral bands