Cover–MODIS image of the Middle East

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument was launched on the Terra platform on 18 December 1999. It was designed to observe and monitor the surface of the Earth, ocean color, and the atmosphere. The spatial resolution of MODIS products varies with respect to the application between 250, 500, and 1000m, with a near daily global coverage. MODIS provides a new and improved capability for terrestrial satellite remote sensing aimed at meeting the needs of global change research. In particular, analysis of land-cover and land-use changes will bene t from MODIS data available. The cover image ( gure 1) shows a true colour composite made from the MODIS data acquired on 10 September 2000. The image was produced by combining data from the red (250m, 620–670 nm), green (500m, 545–565 nm), and blue (500m, 459–479 nm) MODIS wavebands. The image covers a large portion of the Middle East, including Egypt (Western and Eastern Deserts and the Sinai Peninsula), Israel