Earth
ID: 3327
The Aqua satellite orbits the Earth every 99 minutes in a polar, sun-synchronous orbit. The MODIS instrument on Aqua observes reflected light from the Earth in 36 spectral frequencies. These observations can be processed to show many properties of the Earth's surface, from temperature and phytoplankton measurements near the surface of the ocean to fire occurrences and land cover characteristics on the land surface.
This animation shows MODIS ocean color data from about 4 days of individual Aqua orbits. Ocean color is a measurement of the amount of chlorophyll in ocean phytoplankton and is therefore a direct measurement of the amount of life in the ocean. It can only be measured in ocean regions that are free of both clouds and sun glint, the bright band of specular reflection in the center of each granule. For this animation the data is accumulated and so builds up a complete picture of the surface of the Earth except around the South Pole, which is in darkness during the entire 4-day period.
Aqua MODIS Ocean Color Progression during Hurricane Katrina
This animation shows MODIS ocean color data from about 4 days of individual Aqua orbits. Ocean color is a measurement of the amount of chlorophyll in ocean phytoplankton and is therefore a direct measurement of the amount of life in the ocean. It can only be measured in ocean regions that are free of both clouds and sun glint, the bright band of specular reflection in the center of each granule. For this animation the data is accumulated and so builds up a complete picture of the surface of the Earth except around the South Pole, which is in darkness during the entire 4-day period.
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Visualization Credits
Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3327
Data Used:
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.
Keywords:
DLESE >> Physical oceanography
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Optics >> Ocean Color
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Platform Characteristics >> Orbital Characteristics
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Sensor Characteristics >> Viewing Geometry
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3327
Data Used:
Aqua/MODIS
2005/08/26T23:17:35 - 2005/08/30T21:52:34Keywords:
DLESE >> Physical oceanography
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Optics >> Ocean Color
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Platform Characteristics >> Orbital Characteristics
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Sensor Characteristics >> Viewing Geometry
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
