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Terra'sInstruments

Scientific Instruments

Terra carries 5 advanced instruments that together provide a complete picture of Earth's climate, atmosphere, and surface.

Scientific
Instruments

Each instrument aboard Terra provides unique capabilities for studying Earth's systems

MOPITT – Air Pollution Tracking

MOPITT monitored carbon monoxide and air pollution from wildfires and factories, showing how human activity impacts the atmosphere.

  • Urban pollution mapping
  • Wildfire smoke monitoring
  • Factory emissions tracking

CERES – Earth's Energy Balance

CERES studies the balance between incoming sunlight and outgoing heat, providing critical insights into climate change.

  • Incoming solar radiation
  • Heat reflected by Earth
  • Direct climate indicators

MODIS – Daily Global Imaging

MODIS captures daily imagery of Earth, from cloud movements and ocean currents to wildfires and polar ice changes.

  • Global daily images
  • Weather and cloud tracking
  • Forest fire detection

ASTER – High-Resolution Imaging

ASTER zooms into fine details such as urban heat, volcanoes, and natural resources, offering precise data for environmental studies.

  • Urban heat tracking
  • Volcano monitoring
  • Natural resource exploration

MISR – Multi-Angle Observations

MISR provides multiple perspectives of the Earth, helping scientists study storms, haze, cloud heights, and megacities' growth.

  • Storm & haze analysis
  • Cloud height measurement
  • Megacity growth monitoring