Comparison of Terra and Aqua MODIS VIS Bands On-Orbit Response

MODIS reflective solar bands (RSB) cover the VIS, NIR, and SWIR spectral regions. They are calibrated by a set of on-board calibrators (OBC). The 7 VIS spectral bands are located on the same focal plane assembly (FPA), with wavelengths from 0.41 to 0.56 mum. On-orbit observations show that the changes in the VIS response have been relatively large compared to the other spectral bands. This paper provides a comprehensive study of changes in the VIS response for both Terra and Aqua MODIS. It examines the differences among individual detectors within the same spectral band and between the two mirror sides. Results derived from measurements made by the instrument OBC and regularly scheduled lunar observations show that Aqua MODIS has been more stable than Terra MODIS in the VIS spectral region, with small response changes and mirror side differences over time.