15-year on-orbit Terra-sensor Intercalibration Using ASTER and MODIS

Abstract:

Science questions requiring measurements from more than one sensor benefit from having a consistent calibration for each sensor. Many sensor characterization techniques can be used for this such as prelaunch testing, on-board references, and vicarious calibration – the best being a mixture and understanding of all of these techniques. Among several forms of vicarious calibration, this work will show sensor intercalibration using terrestrial sites between the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emissive and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) which are two instruments on the Terra satellite. ASTER is a high-resolution, narrow-swath sensor and is sometimes called the zoom lens of MODIS. Despite differences in spectral band properties, this sensor pair provides the ideal case for sensor comparisons since viewing and illumination geometries are nearly identical. Intercalibration results shown here provide confidence in multi-sensor applications using measurements from these sensors as well as an assessment of the performance of intercalibration methodology.