1. Terra Launched December 18, 1999
MODIS
MOPITT
ASTER
MISR
CERES

2. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission & Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)
NASA & MITI, Terra
705 km polar orbit, descending (10:30 a.m.)
Sensor Characteristics
14 spectral bands ranging from 0.56 to 11.3 µm
3 tiltable subsystems for acquiring stereoscopic imagery over a swath width of 60 km
Spatial resolutions:
15 m (bands 1, 2, 3N, 3B)
30 m (bands 4 - 9)
90 m (bands )
4% reflectance calibration accuracy (VNIR & SWIR)
2 K brightness temperature accuracy ( K)
VNIR (1,2,3N)
VNIR (3B)
TIR
SWIR

3. Synergy Between Terra & Landsat-7 (same day 705 km orbits ~ 30 min
Synergy Between Terra & Landsat-7 (same day 705 km orbits ~ 30 min. apart)
Landsat ETM+ input to Terra data
Vegetation classification for MODIS & MISR biophysical products
Focus on global change hotspots detected by MODIS & MISR
Linking Terra observations with 26+ year Landsat archive
Radiometric rectification of MODIS data
2330 km swath width
MODIS
spatial resolution (250, 500, 1000 m)
global coverage ˛ 2 days
MISR
spatial resolution (275, 550, 1100 m)
360 km
global coverage ˛ 9 days
16 day orbital repeat
global coverage ˛ seasonally
Landsat 7
spatial resolution (15, 30, 60 m)
183 km
ASTER
45-60 day orbital repeat
global coverage ˛ months to years
spatial resolution (15, 30, 90 m)
60 km swath
Terra input to Landsat ETM+ data
Use of MODIS & MISR for improved atmospheric correction of ETM+
Use of MODIS & MISR for temporal interpolation of ETM+ data
Cross-calibration of ASTER, MISR, and MODIS

4. Comparison of Landsat 7 and ASTER

5. Spectral Exitance (Temp. & e)
 = 1.0
 = 1.0
 = 1.0

6. Earth’s reflective (sun) & emissive (reradiation) regions

7. Spectral Reflectance Asphalt & Concrete Rl=1-Al

8. Green Veg & Astroturf Rl=1-Al

9. Green Veg & Fall Colors Rl=1-Al

10. Snow, Clouds, Water, Soil, & Green Veg.
Rl=1-Al

11. Exoatmospheric Solar Irradiancel Solar Irradiancel at Earth’s Surface
atmospheric limb

12. ASTER

13. ASTER

15. ASTER

16. Terra Launched December 18, 1999
MODIS
MOPITT
ASTER
MISR
CERES

17. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission & Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)
NASA & MITI, Terra
705 km polar orbit, descending (10:30 a.m.)
Sensor Characteristics
14 spectral bands ranging from 0.56 to 11.3 µm
3 tiltable subsystems for acquiring stereoscopic imagery over a swath width of 60 km
Spatial resolutions:
15 m (bands 1, 2, 3N, 3B)
30 m (bands 4 - 9)
90 m (bands )
4% reflectance calibration accuracy (VNIR & SWIR)
2 K brightness temperature accuracy ( K)
VNIR (1,2,3N)
VNIR (3B)
TIR
SWIR

18. Comparison of Landsat 7 and ASTER

19. Synergy Between Terra & Landsat-7 (same day 705 km orbits ~ 30 min
Synergy Between Terra & Landsat-7 (same day 705 km orbits ~ 30 min. apart)
Landsat ETM+ input to Terra data
Vegetation classification for MODIS & MISR biophysical products
Focus on global change hotspots detected by MODIS & MISR
Linking Terra observations with 26+ year Landsat archive
Radiometric rectification of MODIS data
2330 km swath width
MODIS
spatial resolution (250, 500, 1000 m)
global coverage ˛ 2 days
MISR
spatial resolution (275, 550, 1100 m)
360 km
global coverage ˛ 9 days
16 day orbital repeat
global coverage ˛ seasonally
Landsat 7
spatial resolution (15, 30, 60 m)
183 km
ASTER
45-60 day orbital repeat
global coverage ˛ months to years
spatial resolution (15, 30, 90 m)
60 km swath
Terra input to Landsat ETM+ data
Use of MODIS & MISR for improved atmospheric correction of ETM+
Use of MODIS & MISR for temporal interpolation of ETM+ data
Cross-calibration of ASTER, MISR, and MODIS

20. ASTER Stereo View of Mt. Fuji
Flyby around Mt. Fuji, was created entirely from ASTER data
It shows how ASTER’s stereo imaging capability allows us to produce detailed elevation data
Over the lifetime of the mission, ASTER will acquire stereo data over the entire land surface of the Earth

21. ASTER Image of San Francisco Bay
Visible & Near-Infrared Radiometer
R = 0.81 µm
G = 0.66 µm
B = 0.56 µm
Suspended sediment in the bays, vegetation health, and details of urban development

22. ASTER Image of Washington
R = 0.81 µm
G = 0.66 µm
B = 0.56 µm

23. Summary and Conclusions
High spatial resolution sensors have been in orbit around the Earth since 1972 and is a useful resource for
Land cover and land use change
Emergencies such as flooding and volcanic eruptions
Monitoring the evolution and change in glaciers and ice sheets over time
Combination of sensors/spectral regions is powerful and redundancy is v. important