The MODIS sensor aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites was designed to acquire data across a wide range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. These wavelengths include the visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, and thermal infrared and are used to collect data to study various phenomena that occur on the Earth and in our atmosphere.
The MODIS instruments acquire data in three native spatial resolutions:
- Bands 1–2: 250 meter
- Bands 3–7: 500 meter
- Bands 8–36: 1000 meter
The higher-level MODIS Land Products are produced at four nominal spatial resolutions: 250 meter, 500 meter, 1000 meter, and 5600 meter (0.05 degrees).
| Band | Reflected Range (nm) | Emitted Range (µm) | Band Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 620–670 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 2 | 841–876 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 3 | 459–479 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 4 | 545–565 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 5 | 1230–1250 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 6 | 1628–1652 | Shortwave Infrared/SWIR | |
| 7 | 2105–2155 | Shortwave Infrared/SWIR | |
| 8 | 405–420 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 9 | 438–448 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 10 | 483–493 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 11 | 526–536 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 12 | 546–556 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 13h | 662–672 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 13l | 662–672 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 14h | 673–683 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 14l | 673–683 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 15 | 743–753 | Shortwave/VIS | |
| 16 | 862–877 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 17 | 890–920 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 18 | 931–941 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 19 | 915–965 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 20 | 3.660–3.840 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 21 | 3.929–3.989 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 22 | 3.929–3.989 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 23 | 4.020–4.080 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 24 | 4.433–4.498 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 25 | 4.482–4.549 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 26 | 1360–1390 | Shortwave/NIR | |
| 27 | 6.535–6.895 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 28 | 7.175–7.475 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 29 | 8.400–8.700 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 30 | 9.580–9.880 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 31 | 10.780–11.280 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 32 | 11.770–12.270 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 33 | 13.185–13.485 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 34 | 13.485–13.785 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 35 | 13.785–14.085 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR | |
| 36 | 14.085–14.385 | Longwave thermal Infrared/TIR |