Comparison of the MODIS and VIIRS on-board SD and SDSM performance

Amit Angal; Xiaoxiong Xiong; Ning Lei; Kevin Twedt

doi:10.1117/12.2324477

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7 September 2018 Comparison of the MODIS and VIIRS on-board SD and SDSM performance

Amit Angal, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Ning Lei, Kevin Twedt

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Proceedings Volume 10764, Earth Observing Systems XXIII; 107641V (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2324477
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The MODIS reflective solar bands (RSB) are calibrated on-orbit using a solar diffuser (SD) with its on-orbit degradation, or change in the bi-directional reflectance factor (BRF) monitored using a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM). By performing alternate observations of direct sunlight via an attenuation screen and of sunlight reflected diffusely off the SD, the SDSM monitors the on-orbit degradation of the SD. The MODIS SDSM has 9 detectors, covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 0.94 μm. Both Terra and Aqua MODIS instruments have successfully operated for more than 16 years on-orbit, with the SD experiencing significant degradation at the shortest wavelength (about 50% for Terra MODIS and about 20% for Aqua MODIS at 0.41 μm). The first VIIRS instrument on the Suomi NPP spacecraft was launched in October, 2011 and the follow-on instrument was launched in November, 2017 on the JPSS-1 spacecraft (now NOAA-20). Both the VIIRS instruments carry a MODIS-like SD and SDSM system with an improved design based on the lessons learned from MODIS. Unlike MODIS, the VIIRS SDSM collects data using 8 detectors covering a similar wavelength range as MODIS. A similar wavelength dependent SD degradation pattern is also observed in both VIIRS instruments. This paper provides a comparison of the on-orbit performance of the four instruments in terms of the on-orbit changes in the SDSM detector responses and on-orbit degradations of their SDs. The NOAA-20 VIIRS instrument is still in its first year of operation and hence the early performance of the Terra and Aqua MODIS and SNPP VIIRS is discussed to provide a perspective comparison.

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Amit Angal, Xiaoxiong Xiong, Ning Lei, and Kevin Twedt "Comparison of the MODIS and VIIRS on-board SD and SDSM performance", Proc. SPIE 10764, Earth Observing Systems XXIII, 107641V (7 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2324477

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