Global MODIS/Terra satellite data provides calibrated at-aperture radiances for 36 spectral bands from 0.4 to 14.4 microns. The Level 1B Near Real Time product converts raw scans to geophysical units and includes quality flags, error estimates, and calibration data. It is produced by the LANCEMODIS organization.
Use Cases
- Classify land cover and cloud boundaries using radiance values from bands 1-2 and 3-7.
- Estimate sea surface temperature and cloud top altitude from thermal infrared bands 20-25 and 31-34.
- Detect cirrus clouds and atmospheric water vapor using specific bands 26 and 17-19.
- Monitor ocean color and phytoplankton biomass with radiance data from bands 8-16.
- Calculate Earth's Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) for solar reflective bands 1-19 and 26.
Strengths
- Provides data for 36 discrete spectral bands covering a wide electromagnetic spectrum from 0.4 to 14.4 microns.
- Includes calibrated radiances in geophysical units (W/(m^2 um sr)) alongside quality flags and error estimates.
Limitations
- Visible and shortwave infrared bands (1-19, 26) are only available for daytime observations, limiting continuous monitoring.
- Specific row counts, temporal coverage, and data freshness for the NRT stream are not provided in the description.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA Earthdata platform, from the MODIS instrument aboard the Terra satellite.
- Collection Method
- Generated from MODIS Level 1A scans of raw radiance, calibrated and geolocated.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- Near Real Time (NRT) product, implying rapid data availability after satellite overpass.
- Geography
- Global swath coverage from the Terra satellite's orbit.