MODIS is a special remote sensing instrument used to monitor the earth. The name is an acronym which stands for Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer.
 |
MODIS instrument on NASA's DC-8 Flying Laboratory, June 2013
(c) Brian Blaylock |
Currently it is installed on two satellites--Terra and Aqua--and is used in airborne earth research like on NASA's DC-8 Flying Laboratory. The images this instrument creates are used to monitor cloud cover, monitor the progression of wildfires and smoke transport, estimate snow cover, and has many other uses.
 |
| Aqua Satellite. Image from NASA Eyes |
Terra and Aqua are polar orbiting satellites. As the earth rotates, the satellites sensors scan the earth taking a continuous picture. Below shows the location of the Aqua satellite and the orbit path.
 |
| Image from NASA Eyes |
Aqua and Terra, together, image the entire earth in about a day. The data they collect is transmitted back to earth, processes, and stitched together to form a complete picture. Below is an composite image for March 6, 2014. Because the earth is a sphere, data over some parts of the earth cannot be collected, and the missing data can be seen below.
 |
| Image from NASA Eyes |
The latest MODIS images can be found here:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.