Producing global science products for the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in MODAPS

The MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was launched on NASA's EOS-Terra spacecraft in December 1999. With 36 spectral bands covering the visible, near wave and short wave infrared, MODIS produces over 40 global science data products, including sea surface temperature, ocean color, cloud properties, vegetation indices land surface temperature and land cover change. The MODIS Data Processing System (MODAPS) produces 400 GB/day of global MODIS science products from calibrated radiances generated in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS.) The science products are shipped to the EOSDIS for archiving and distribution to the public. An additional 250 GB ofproducts are shipped each day to MODIS team members for quality assurance and use in validating their products. The authors describe the architecture of MODAPS, identify bottlenecks in system performance and describe how they were addressed.