The MODIS aerosol products today are widely used by the climate and air quality communities, operationally in data assimilation systems, by air quality forecasters, and throughout the research world. The product is the result of algorithms that were conceptualized 20 years ago by Yoram Kaufman and Didier Tanre, developed through the entire 1990's by a team spanning two continents, and maintained and evaluated since Terra launch in 1999. I will use this opportunity to point out the highlights of the past 20 years, and preview plans for a future that is beginning even now.
Document ID: 20110023322. GSFC.ABS.5366.2011. Observational and Modeling of Aerosol and Clouds Properties for Climate Studies Workshop; 11-14 Sep. 2011; Paris; France.
