NASA | Aqua MODIS: Science and Beauty

MODIS, a versatile instrument on Aqua and Terra satellites, has revolutionized our understanding of the atmosphere, oceans, and land. It offers advanced technological capabilities, including numerous spectral bands for detailed environmental monitoring. MODIS has enhanced cloud studies, revealing higher cloud cover than previously thought and providing data on cloud temperature and composition. It also monitors ocean conditions, tracking sea surface temperature, ocean color, and phytoplankton, which are crucial for understanding marine ecosystems and carbon cycles. Additionally, MODIS observes land changes, such as fires and vegetation growth, offering insights into environmental changes and climate impacts.

What makes MODIS a quintessential instrument in the EOS community?

• Its focus on a single discipline

• Its versatility and wide range of applications

• Its limited spectral bands

• Its ability to monitor only the atmosphere

Before MODIS, what was the commonly accepted percentage of Earth's cloud cover?

• 50%

• 90%

• 30%

• 70%

How does MODIS differentiate between different types of clouds?

• By observing their movement

• By assessing their temperature and composition

• By analyzing their shape

• By measuring their color

What oceanic feature does MODIS help monitor that is crucial for the marine food chain?

• Ocean tides

• Phytoplankton

• Coral reefs

• Ocean salinity

In what way does MODIS contribute to understanding land vegetation changes?

• By measuring soil moisture

• By tracking animal migration

• By monitoring vegetation growth and seasonal cycles

• By analyzing mineral content