A Novel Approach to Select Anchor Pixels in Sebal Model by Using Inputs from SAR Images

Abstract

The proper selection of anchor pixels (hot and cold pixels) for calculating the sensible heat flux (H) in SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) is a critical aspect to be considered. The current study proposes a novel method to select the cold and hot pixels using the soil moisture measurements derived from the SAR images. The Water cloud Model (WCM) derived soil moisture values combined with NDVI and Land Surface Temperature values were used to locate the anchor pixels in the current study. The results confirmed that the capability of SAR images combined with optical images will help in the appropriate selection of anchor pixels. The ET values obtained in the study showed good agreement with the ground conditions.