The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is expected to make major contributions to understanding the global Earth system, including interactions among land, ocean, and atmospheric processes. The MODIS instrument provides daylight reflection and day/night emission spectral imaging of any point on the Earth at least every 2 days, operating continuously.

MODIS is an imaging radiometer employing a cross-track scan mirror and collecting optics, and a set of linear arrays with spectral interference filters located in four focal planes. The optical arrangement will provide imagery in 36 discrete bands between 0.4 and 14.5 µm selected for diagnostic significance in Earth science. The instrument will provide long-term observations from which an enhanced knowledge of global dynamics and processes occurring on the surface of the Earth and in the lower atmosphere can be derived. This multidisciplinary instrument will yield simultaneous, congruent observations of high-priority atmospheric (aerosol and cloud properties, water vapor and temperature profiles), oceanic (sea-surface temperature and chlorophyll), and land-surface features (land cover changes, land-surface temperature, and vegetation properties).

Information about the MODIS instrument data provided on this CD-ROM.

MODIS Data Web Sites

MODIS Home Page: http://modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/MODIS/

MODIS Support at the EROS Data Center (EDC) DAAC: http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/index.html

MODIS Support at the GSFC Earth Sciences (GES) DAAC: http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/MODIS/index.shtml

MODIS Support at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) DAAC: http://nsidc.org/NASA/GUIDE/eos.html

About MODIS: http://terra.nasa.gov/About/MODIS/about_modis.html

MODIS Mission Page: http://eosdatainfo.gsfc.nasa.gov/eosdata/terra/modis/modis.html

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