terra overview

8/13/2019 Terra Overview

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Remote Sensing of Atmosphere, Land and OceanProperties from Terra

Remote sensing of atmosphere,land and ocean properties Examples from Earth

observations Orbit, sensors, and sampling

characteristics

Michael D. KingNASA Goddard Space Flight Center


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EOS Goals & Mission Objectives

Goals Develop an understanding of the total Earth system, and the effects of natural and

human-induced changes on the global environment Expand scientific knowledge of the Earth system using NASAs unique capabilities

from the vantage points of space, aircraft, and in situ platforms Disseminate information about the Earth system Support national and international environmental policy recommendationsMission Objectives Create an integrated scientific observing system that will enable multidisciplinary

study of Earth system science Develop a comprehensive data and information system, including a data retrieval and

processing system Acquire and assemble a global database emphasizing remote sensing measurements

from space over a decade or more Improve predictive models of the Earth system


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Terra Objectives

Provide the first, consistent global snapshot of numerous importantEarth surface and atmospheric characteristics

Improve the ability to detect the human impacts on climate by identifyingindicators, or fingerprints, of human activity that can be used todistinguish them from natural variability

Provide measurements of the effects of clouds, aerosols, and greenhousegases on the Earths total energy balance

Provide estimates of global terrestrial and marine productivity that willenable more accurate calculations of global carbon storage, exchangewith the atmosphere, and year-to-year variability

Provide observations that will improve predictions of climate and ofweather at seasonal and interannual time scales Contribute to improved methods of disaster prediction, characterization,

and risk reduction from wild fires, volcanoes, floods, and droughts


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Terras Global Perspective

MODIS 1-2 day global coverage in 36

wavelengths from 250 m to 1km resolution

MISR Stereo images at 9 look

angles ASTER

Hi-resolution, multi-spectralimages from 15 m to 90 mresolution, plus stereo

MOPITT

Global measures of CH4 & CO CERES Measures Earths shortwave,

longwave, and net radiantenergy budget


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ASTER

Launched December 18, 1999

MODIS

CERES

MISR

MOPITT

Terra


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NASA, Terra & Aqua launches 1999, 2002 705 km polar orbits, descending (10:30

a.m.) & ascending (1:30 p.m.) Sensor Characteristics

36 spectral bands ranging from 0.41 to14.385 m

cross-track scan mirror with 2330 kmswath width

Spatial resolutions: 250 m (bands 1 - 2) 500 m (bands 3 - 7)

1000 m (bands 8 - 36) 2% reflectance calibration accuracy onboard solar diffuser & solar diffuser

stability monitor

MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)


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MODIS Scan Swath


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R = 0.65 mG = 0.56 mB = 0.47 m

May 28, 2001

Global Level-1B Composite Image


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Cloud Optical Thickness(M. D. King, S. Platnick, M. Gray, E. Moody, et al. NASA GSFC,

UMBC)

t c

1

10

70

Level-3 MonthlyAugust 2001


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Cloud Top Pressure(W. P. Menzel, R. Frey, K. Strabala, L. Gumley, et al. NOAA

NESDIS, U. Wisconsin/CIMSS)Level-3 Monthly

April 2001

300

400

500

700

1000pc (hPa)

900

800

600


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Precipitable Water over Land & Sunglint(B. C. Gao, et al. Naval Research Laboratory)

Level-3 MonthlyAugust 2001 q (cm)

0.0

2.5

7.5

5.0


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Fine mode t a (0.55 m)

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.8

0.7

0.5

0.6

Aerosol Optical Thickness(Y. J. Kaufman, D. Tanr, D. A. Chu, L. A. Remer et al. NASA GSFC,

University of Lille)Level-3 MonthlySeptember 2000


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Coarse mode

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4t a (0.55 m)

Aerosol Optical Thickness(Y. J. Kaufman, D. Tanr, D. A. Chu, L. A. Remer et al. NASA GSFC,

University of Lille)Level-3 MonthlySeptember 2000


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Global Aerosol Optical Properties

1.0

0.00.0 0.25 0.5

Aerosol Optical Thickness F i n e

A e r o s o

l

F r a c

t i o n

QuickTime an d a Sorenson Video decompressor ar e needed to see this picture.


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MODIS Water Vapor (1 km)

MODIS Reveals Atmospheric Moisture Details AsNever Seen Before

GOES-8 Water Vapor (4 x 8 km)


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MODIS Water Vapor (1 km)

Four Panel Zoom of Cloud-Free Orographic Wavesrevealed in Water Vapor Imagery

Shortwave Infrared Window

Longwave Infrared WindowVisible


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Every 100 Minutes MODIS Covers the Polar Regions


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Every 100 Minutes MODIS Covers the Polar Regions

QuickTime and a Video decompressor are needed to see this picture.


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Cloud Tracked WindsWater Vapor Winds

Winds from MODIS: An Arctic Example


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True Color ImageSubvisible Cirrus (1.38 m)

MODIS Detects Subvisible Cirrus

Central AmericaApril 4, 2000


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South America

Surface Reflectance of South AmericaMOD09 (atmospherically corrected radiance)


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Brazil

Surface Reflectance of South AmericaMOD09 (atmospherically corrected radiance)


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MODIS Land Cover Classification

0 Water

1 Evergreen Needleleaf Forest

2 Evergreen Broadleaf Forest

3 Deciduous Needleleaf Forest

4 Deciduous Broadleaf Forest

5 Mixed Forests

6 Closed Shrublands

7 Open Shrublands

8 Woody Savannas

9 Savannas

10 Grasslands

11 Permanent Wetlands

12 Croplands

13 Urban and Built-Up

14 Cropland/Natural Veg. Mosaic

15 Snow and Ice

16 Barren or Sparsely Vegetated

17 Tundra


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Surface AlbedoSurface albedo = ecosystem + MOD43 (Strahler, Schaaf et al.) aggregation


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Albedo MoviesLoops through bands 0.65, 0.86,

1.24, 1.64, 2.1, and 3.7 mLoops through seasonal equinox

and solstice, progressing fromJulian days 91, 173, 293, 356

Ecosystem Color SchemePink = CropsGreen = TreesYellows = Barren/DesertsBlues = Savannas


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MODIS Snow Cover(D. K. Hall, V. V. Salomonson, G. A. Riggs NASA GSFC)

October 16, 2001 April 23, 2002

Quic kTi me and a YUV420 codec decompressor are need ed to see thi s p icture.


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Nighttime Sea Surface Temperature(O. B. Brown, P. J. Minnett, R. H. Evans University of Miami)

-2

5

10

15

20

3025

C35

Level-3 MonthlyMay 2001


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Chlorophyll-a(K. L. Carder, R. H. Evans U. South Florida, U. Miami)

0.01

1.0

10

mg m-3 20

0.1

Level-3 MonthlyMay 2001


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MODIS Sea Surface Temperature off the EastCoast of the US

May 8, 2000


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NASA, TRMM, Terra & Aqua launches 1997, 1999, 2002 350 km orbit (35 inclination), 705

km polar orbits, descending (10:30a.m.) & ascending (1:30 p.m.)

Sensor Characteristics

3 spectral bands Shortwave (0.3-5.0 m) Window (8-12 m) Total (0.3->200 m)

Spatial resolution: 20 km

78 cross-track scan and 360

azimuth biaxial scan 0.5% calibration accuracy onboard blackbodies & solar

diffuser

Clouds and the Earths Radiant Energy System(CERES)


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CERES Scan Swath

Quic kTim e and a YUV420 codec d ecompressor a re needed to s ee this pict ure.


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CERES Scan Swath on Aqua

QuickTime and a Sorenson Video decompressor are needed to see this picture.


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CERES Measurements

Study cloud radiative forcing andfeedbacks;

Develop an observational baseline ofclear-sky radiative fluxes;

Document radiant input to atmosphericand oceanic energetics models;

Validate general circulation models; and Enhance extended-range numerical

weather predictions

Shortwave Flux (W m -2)

Longwave Flux (W m-2)

0 105 210

100 210 320


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Longwave (on left): Radiation emitted to space from the Earth systemShortwave (on right): Sunlight reflected back to space

Shortwave and Longwave Radiation as Determinedfrom Data of the Terra CERES

March 2000 May 2001

QuickTim e and a YUV420 codec d ecompressor a re needed to s ee this pict ure.


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NASA & MITI, Terra 705 km polar orbit, descending (10:30

a.m.) Sensor Characteristics

14 spectral bands ranging from 0.56 to11.3 m

3 tiltable subsystems for acquiringstereoscopic imagery over a swathwidth of 60 km

Spatial resolutions: 15 m (bands 1, 2, 3N, 3B) 30 m (bands 4 - 9) 90 m (bands 10 - 14)

4% reflectance calibration accuracy(VNIR & SWIR)

2 K brightness temperature accuracy(240-370 K)

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission & ReflectionRadiometer (ASTER)

SWIR

VNIR (1,2,3N)

VNIR (3B)TIR


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QuickTim e and a YUV420 codec decompressor are needed to see this p ic ture.

ASTER Scan Swath


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ASTER Spectral Bands


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ASTER Measurements

Spectral reflectances of theEarths surface at 15 -30 m

Surface temperature andemissivities at 90 m

Digital elevation maps fromstereo images

Surface composition andvegetation mapscloud, sea ice, and polar iceproducts

Observation of natural hazards(volcanoes, etc.)

Color IR Shortwave IR

Thermal IR SSTMarch 3, 2000


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ASTER - Ji Paran, Brazil


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ASTER - Mount St. Helens


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NASA, EOS Terra launched in 1999 polar, descending orbits of 705 km,

10:30 a.m. crossing Sensor Characteristics

uses nine CCD-based push-broomcameras viewing nadir and fore & aft to70.5

swath width of 400 km four spectral bands for each camera (36

channels), at 443, 555, 670, & 865 nm resolutions of 275 m, 550 m, or 1.1 km

Advantages high spectral stability 9 viewing angles helps determine aerosol

by dependence (fixed t )

Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR)


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MISR Scan


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multi-angleanimation

Fire Animation from MISR


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Saharan Dust Storm near Canary Islands

February 29, 2000

70 Forward Nadir 70 Aftward


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MISR is being used to studyclouds and how they interactwith sunlight

Cycling through the nine views

of this scene of clouds overFlorida, notice the displacementof the clouds

This is due to a geometriceffect called parallax, and nottrue motion

Parallax Effect in MISR Images

March 6, 2000


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Extratropical Cyclone in the Southern OceanAugust 20, 2001

Cloud-tracked winds cloud-top heights


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MISR Imagery & Aerosol Optical ThicknessAngola and Namibia

ta (0.558 m)Nadir 70 backward Multiangle

Nadir True color RGB (672,

558, 446 nm) 70 backward-viewing

camera

True color RGB Multiangle (672 nm) Red = nadir camera Green = 70 forward Blue = 70 backward

Diner et al. (2001)


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NASA, EOS Terra launched in 1999 polar, descending orbits of 705 km,

10:30 a.m. crossing Sensor Characteristics

Spectral bands:2.223-2.294 m CH4 2.323-2.345 m CO4.562-4.673 m CO

Spatial resolution:22 km at nadir

CO profiles:22 km x 3 km

Swath: 640 km

Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere(MOPITT)


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Quic kTim e and a YUV420 codec decompressor are needed to see this pic ture.

MOPITT Scan Swath


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MOPITT Measurements

Measure and model troposphericcarbon monoxide and methaneconcentrations

Obtain carbon monoxide profileswith 22 km x 3 km resolution

Measure the methane column inthe troposphere Generate global maps of carbon

monoxide and methanedistribution, and provideincreased knowledge oftropospheric chemistry

Carbon Monoxide, March 2000


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MOPITT CO PerspectiveThe First Year of Terra Data


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Terras New Features Array of five Earth Science Instruments in space - hardware, software

and maneuvers to convert the remote sensing signal into science ASTER: Thermal channels for geology and environment, stereo looks, 15-

90 m resolutions CERES: Cloud radiative forcing, better angular sampling MISR: Multiangle views of clouds and land, BRDF, 275-1100 m resolutions

MODIS: 250 m daily coverage for clouds and vegetation change 7 solar channels for land and aerosol 1.37 m Cirrus clouds 0.94 m water vapor fire channels and air temperature profiles at 1 km

MOPITT : Global CO and CH4


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earthobservatory.nasa.gov

terra.nasa.gov

visibleearth.nasa.gov

Web Sites Check them out


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MODIS Granule Flyby of the Himalayas(MOD09 Atmospherically Corrected Radiance)

terra overview

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