Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is an instrument aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. Each card on this page represents a product derived using data from the MODIS instrument. Products on green cards, marked as "Evaluation Product," are being used by at least one National Weather Service Forecast Office. For more details on any product, click the link at the bottom of each eard. To see actual real-time data, click the link at the bottom right of the card.
For more information, see the MODIS Overview at the bottom of this page.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Shortwave IR Image
3.9µm channel depicting both reflected and emitted atmospheric and surface emission.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Spectral Difference
Difference between 11µm (Band 31) and 3.9µm (Band 22) IR channels; used to determine fog depth.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Dust
RGB image used to identify dust plumes that are being lofted into the lower atmosphere.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Land Surface Temperature
SPoRT-generated land surface temperature product (K). This product is inactive.
details | real-time data
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Longwave IR Image
11µm channel depicting both reflected and emitted atmospheric and surface emission.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Air Mass
RGB image used to detect moisture, cloud cover, and synoptic-scale features associated with air masses.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Nighttime Microphysics
RGB image used to identify low clouds and fog, low stratus, and thin cirrus.
EVALUATION PRODUCT
Cloud Mask
SPoRT-generated image color-coded by pixel to depict clear or cloudy regions; variation of MODIS Cloud Mask.
details | real-time data
MODIS Overview
MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a key instrument aboard both the Terra and Aqua NASA EOS satellites. Terra's orbit crosses the equator at 10:30 am and pm, while Aqua's passes are at 1:30 am and pm, together providing up to 4 passes per day, with global coverage every 1 -2 days. The MODIS instrument acquires data in 36 spectral bands at resolutions of 1 km, 500 m, and 250 m, allowing for the retrieval of atmospheric, surface, and cloud properties at high resolutions. Real-time MODIS imagery is available from a number of direct broadcast ground stations throughout the world. SPoRT obtains this imagery from the University of Wisconsin (UW) and the University of South Florida (USF) direct broadcast stations and provides selected products to NWS Forecast Offices formatted for display in their native AWIPS system.
A wealth of geophysical parameters describing the Earth's surface (land and ocean) and atmosphere (including clouds) are derived from MODIS imagery by the EOS science team in support of NASA's global climate research projects. These products are derived at the various NASA DAACs using MODIS science team algorithms. A few of these algorithms have been adapted for real-time applications as part of the IMAPP software available to Terra/Aqua direct broadcast ground stations, and some of these real-time EOS products are the ones used by SPoRT. Additional real-time products have been generated as part of SPoRT's activities with algorithms developed by SPoRT scientists.
Specifically, SPoRT uses single bands from the visible and infrared to provide high resolution imagery to its NWS partner offices and multiple bands to generate products such as color composite imagery, land surface temperature, and a cloud mask. In addition to in-house generated products, several MODIS products including cloud top pressure, a cloud mask, lifted index and cloud phase are obtained from the University of Wisconsin and distributed to NWS offices. A sea surface temperature product is obtained from the University of South Florida and is used to generate a SPoRT SST composite.
For more information on MODIS products, visit NASA's MODIS Data Products.
For more information on Direct Broadcast sites, visit NASA's Direct Broadcast.
For more information on IMAPP, visit CIMSS's Direct Broadcast.
