Updates of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on-orbit calibration uncertainty assessments

Xiaoxiong Xiong; Amit Angal; William L. Barnes; Hongda Chen; Vincent Chiang; Xu Geng; Yonghong Li; Kevin Twedt; Zhipeng Wang; Truman Wilson; Aisheng Wu

doi:10.1117/1.JRS.12.034001

16 July 2018 Updates of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on-orbit calibration uncertainty assessments

Xiaoxiong Xiong, Amit Angal, William L. Barnes, Hongda Chen, Vincent Chiang, Xu Geng, Yonghong Li, Kevin Twedt, Zhipeng Wang, Truman Wilson, Aisheng Wu

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Vol. 12, Issue 3, 034001 (July 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.12.034001

Abstract

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments have successfully operated for more than 18 and 16 years, respectively, on-board the NASA’s Earth Observing System Terra and Aqua spacecraft. Both Terra and Aqua MODIS have significantly contributed to the advance of global Earth remote sensing applications with a broad range of science products that have been continuously produced since the beginning of each mission and freely distributed to users worldwide. MODIS collects data in 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEB), covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 14.4 μm. Its level 1B (L1B) data products, which provide the input for the MODIS high-level science products, include the top of the atmosphere reflectance factors for the RSB, radiances for both the RSB and TEB, and associated uncertainty indices (UI) at a pixel-by-pixel level. This paper provides a brief review of MODIS L1B calibration algorithms, including a number of improvements made in recent years. It presents an update of sensor calibration uncertainty assessments with a focus on several new contributors resulting from on-orbit changes in sensor characteristics, approaches developed to address these changes, and the impact due to on-orbit changes on the L1B data quality. Also discussed are remaining challenges and potential improvements to be made to continuously maintain sensor calibration and data quality, particularly those related to the quality of MODIS L1B uncertainty.

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Xiaoxiong Xiong, Amit Angal, William L. Barnes, Hongda Chen, Vincent Chiang, Xu Geng, Yonghong Li, Kevin Twedt, Zhipeng Wang, Truman Wilson, and Aisheng Wu "Updates of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on-orbit calibration uncertainty assessments," Journal of Applied Remote Sensing 12(3), 034001 (16 July 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.12.034001

Received: 27 April 2018; Accepted: 26 June 2018; Published: 16 July 2018

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