Paper
24 September 2002 Aqua MODIS thermal emissive bands calibration algorithm and preliminary results
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Abstract
The MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Flight Model (FM1) was launched on-board the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS)Aqua spacecraft on May 4, 2002. Following initial instrument outgas, focal plane cooling, and functional testing, Aqua MODIS opened its nadir aperture door (NAD) on June 24, 2002 and acquired the first on-orbit image. Modis has 36 spectral bands with wavelengths ranging from 0.412μ to 14.5μ. The 16 thermal emissive bands (B20-25 and 27-36) with wavelengths above 3.5μ are calibrated on-orbit by an on-board calibrator blackbody (OBC BB) on a scan by scan basis. In this paper, we provide a brief review of MODIS thermal emissive bands (TEB) calibration algorithm and present early results from Aqua MODIS on-orbit calibration and characterization, including sensor's response stability, noise assessment, and the response versus scan angle (RVS) difference between the two sides of the scan mirror. In general, the on-orbit performance of Aqua MODIS TEB has been consistent with the instrument pre-launch calibration and characterization. Compared to its Protoflight Model (PFM), or the Terra MODIS, launched on December 18, 1999, a number of improvements have been achieved. During instrument on-orbit operation, the BB can be operated from 270 - 315 K (during scheduled warm-up/cool-down cycle). When the BB temperature is above certain limits, three thermal emissive bands (33, 35, and 36) saturate when directly viewing the calibration source. We have developed an algorithm of using the Look-Up Table (LUT) gain coefficients for these three bands to keep the Earth view data calibrated under this situation. An illustration of on-orbit performance of this approach is provided.
© (2002) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Xiaoxiong Xiong, Vincent Chiang, Na Chen, and William L. Barnes "Aqua MODIS thermal emissive bands calibration algorithm and preliminary results", Proc. SPIE 4814, Earth Observing Systems VII, (24 September 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.451986
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Cited by 2 scholarly publications.
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KEYWORDS
Sensors

MODIS

Calibration

Mirrors

Black bodies

Space operations

Algorithm development

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