A MODIS-derived 500m true color earth dataset including seasonal dynamics
Reto Stöckli, Eric Vermote, Nazmi Saleous, Robert Simmon and David Herrring
A MODIS-derived 500m true color earth dataset including seasonal dynamics
Reto Stöckli, Eric Vermote, Nazmi Saleous, Robert Simmon and David Herrring
Back in 2001/2002 we have used NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) TERRA MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data to create an integrated earth system dataset of land surface, ocean, sea ice, land snow and clouds at 1km spatial resolution (right image, below). This spectacular Blue Marble dataset is still the most detailed true-color imagery covering the entire Earth to date. It followed our western hemisphere satellite visualization of the year 2000, which is based on NOAA AVHRR, SeaWiFS and GOES-8 imagery (center image). The Blue Marble images are freely available to educators, scientists, museums, and the public and have been produced under the funding of NASA. More information on the 1km Blue Marble can be found at NASA's Earth Observatory website. A motivation for the creation of such images are certainly astronaut photographs taken during the 1970's (left image).
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The large number of feedbacks we received about these images were encouraging. Numerous applications made use of this dataset during the last two years which motivates to go one step further: we have created a new dataset, again featuring data from the state-of-the-art MODIS sensor on board NASA's TERRA satellite (currently operational in its sixth year) providing both the science community and the public with stunning earth system data and imagery. The new dataset, we call it Blue Marble Next Generation, will provide a higher spatial resolution of 500m and was processed using a different methodology compared to the 1km version. A full year of TERRA MODIS land surface reflectances was automatically processed by use of a discrete Fourier series algorithm, creating seamless True Color composite images showing a cloud-free planet Earth. Since especially the earth's land surface is changing on a seasonal time scale, influenced by the yearly cycle of the earth's climate, the Blue Marble Next Generation is produced at monthly intervals. This allows to visualize the evolution of drought and rainy seasons in sub-tropical areas, the spring greening and autumn leaf fall occuring in temperate deciduous vegetation and the seasonal snow cover change in mountaineous terrain and high latitudes.
Cloud-free images of the planet's four seasons are displayed in the Figure below. Please click on the images to get higher resolution versions (PNG format, 8.5MB):
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January 2004
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April 2004
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July 2004
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October 2004
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R. Stöckli, E. Vermote, N. Saleos, R. Simmon and D. Herring (2005). The Blue Marble Next Generation - A true color earth dataset including seasonal dynamics from MODIS. Sumitted to EOS (AGU).
A PDF document describing the creation of the Blue Marble Next Generation and its technical specifications can be downloaded: PDF (4.5MB). Sample images of selected areas at full 500m resolution are available for preview. Movies for Web and TV, created by the NASA GSFC SVS (Scientific Visualization Studio), are available for download. A short Powerpoint presentation explains the history and science behind BMNG.
Full Dataset:
Interactive Viewers:
NASA's Earth Observatory featuring the Blue Marble Next Generation
The official NASA Blue Marble Next Generation Website
The 1km Blue Marble website (2002)
The GOES-AVHRR-SeaWiFS Blue Marble (2000)
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Dr. Reto Stöckli ETH Atmospheric and Climate Science Universitätsstrasse 16, CHN L16.3 8092 Zürich Switzerland Email:  Phone: +41 44 632 3495 |
