Satellite Data Visualization, Processing and Mapping using MODIS Imager Data

A satellite is a manmade machine that is launched into space and orbits the Earth. These satellites are used for various purposes for examples: Environmental satellites help us monitor and protect our environment; Navigation (GPS) satellites provide accurate time and position information: and Communication satellites allow us to interact with each other over long distances.

         Terra and Aqua are Environmental satellites that carry the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) instrument. MODIS is a radiometer that takes high-resolution images of the Earth with 36 spectral bands. The instrument can take images from 250 meters, 500 meters and 1,000 meters range. MODIS takes visible, infrared and radiometric measurements of the land, oceans, atmosphere and cryosphere. These images provide information that helps weather prediction, and environmental forecasting of extreme events such as forest fires, ice jams, thunderstorms and hurricane.

         This project will investigate how MODIS instruments data are processed, mapped, and visualized using variety of software and application. It will also focus on time laps of how MODIS data used to be processed before and after. Data acquired from environmental satellites such as Terra and Aqua are important for monitoring climate change, sea level rise, land surface temperature changes as well as extreme weather events.