MODIS and VIIRS geometric performance comparison

The VIIRS instrument was launched on the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite in October 2011. This instrument is the first of a series of VIIRS instruments meant to continue the operational and long-term measurements of NASA, NOAA and DOD heritage instruments such as the MODIS instruments on the NASA EOS Terra and Aqua satellites and other. The VIIRS Sensor Data Record product recently achieved Beta Maturity in geometric and radiometric performance after the initial on-orbit instrument characterization and calibration. In this paper, we compare MODIS and VIIRS instrument's geometric characteristics and geolocation accuracy. This VIIRS geometric characterization is on-going and the product to be much more mature by the end of the year. At this time, the MODIS and VIIRS instruments have different but comparable geometric performance and that the VIIRS geometric characteristics will enable it to fulfill the mission objectives.