Global aerosol optical thickness (AOT) data over land obtained from the Moderate Resolu-tion Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are evaluated through comparisons with AOT data retrieved by Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). In general, MODIS overestimates AOT except at a few AERONET sites in Africa and eastern Asia. MODIS/AOTs are, on average, larger than AERONET/AOTs by 0.041 and 0.090 at 470 nm and 660 nm, respectively. The AOT bias at 660 nm is significantly correlated to the surface reflectance at 2130 nm. Both facts suggest that the underestimation of the surface reflectance is the principal reason for this bias at 660 nm. To use the MODIS/AOT at 470 nm is strongly recommended because it is much more reliable than the AOT at 660 nm.
