MODIS: Limitations of Visible Bands

Use this Forum to find information on, or ask a question about, NASA Earth Science data.
Post Reply
EarthdataForumContributor
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:32 pm America/New_York
Answers: 3

MODIS: Limitations of Visible Bands

by EarthdataForumContributor » Mon May 02, 2022 1:42 pm America/New_York

What are the limitations of MODIS data?

Tags:

NSIDC - greckase
User Services
User Services
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2022 11:32 am America/New_York
Answers: 0

Re: MODIS: Limitations of Visible Bands

by NSIDC - greckase » Mon May 02, 2022 1:43 pm America/New_York

MODIS is an optical sensor, which has inherent limitations in observing sea ice and snow. Unlike a passive-microwave sensor, which can detect microwave energy through clouds, MODIS cannot observe the surface when cloud cover is present. MODIS products, therefore, have cloud masks built into the data arrays to prevent clouds from being interpreted as ice and snow. These cloud masks are continually improved as limitations are documented. Finally, the visible bands of MODIS are only used during the day, when reflectance is the dominant mechanism for detecting ice and snow. The thermal bands are used during both day and night to measure sea ice surface temperature by emittance.

Post Reply