The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) combines the unique sensing attributes from the heritage National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). As a key segment of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) sensor suite, VIIRS will provide specific imagery and derived products required by operational meteorologists and oceanographers around the world. In addition, measurements needed to continue multi-decadal records will be enhanced with superior spatial resolution, additional channels and signal fidelity. The MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aqua and Terra spacecraft provides us with unique insight into the VIIRS environmental imagery capabilities well before launch on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) platform in 2006.

The 36 channel MODIS data set provides an excellent view into VIIRS environmental imagery and value-added product applications. The channel suite provides users with the multi-spectral sensing required to significantly upgrade our ability to map and understand clouds and their complex physical makeup, measure sea surface temperature, monitor ocean color and obtain land surface characterization with enhanced spatial and spectral resolution. Specific VIIRS-like examples using MODIS data sets will be illustrated using the NRL/NPOESS Next Generation Weather Satellite demonstration project (NexSat) to highlight applications such as airborne dust detection, aircraft contrails, low cloud mapping at night and ocean color/visibility. In addition, the nighttime low light visible sensor on the DMSP Operational Linescan System (OLS) will be highlighted to present upcoming VIIRS functionality.