Data sets for global remote sensing: lessons learnt†

Abstract

Developments in the use of high temporal, coarse spatial resolution satellite data have made a major contribution to land remote sensing. Global data sets from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) have provided the community with some preliminary tools to address global change research issues. They have also helped the research community to decide where new and improved instrumentation and processing techniques are needed. The authors have used their experience in developing the application of AVHRR data to land monitoring, their involvement in the development of the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) instrument and their participation in the Earth Observing System (EOS) and the Data and Information System of the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP-DIS) to document some of the more important lessons which have been learnt and those which may have been forgotten. The discussion is arranged under the headings of instrument, data-handling and science issues.