A Review of Retrieving of Land Surface Parameters Using the Land Surface Temperature-Vegetation Index Feature Space

Abstract

Using remotely sensed land surface temperature ( Ts) and vegetation index ( VI) feature space combined with models to estimate land surface energy fluxes and surface soil moisture is increasingly important as this method is simple and independent on ground observations. With the development of methods for using the feature space,many researchers propose other feature spaces based on physical and ecological meanings of the Ts/VI feature space. The basic idea behind all these techniques is that surface radiant temperature is sensitively dependent on the surface soil water content. The paper aims to offer a comprehensive and systematic review of the feature spaces and their applications in retrieving land surface parameters. Prior to the review,the biophysical meanings and properties encapsulated in the Ts/VI feature space is elucidated since these represent the building block upon which all the Ts/VI methods described herein are based,and the drought monitoring approaches are summarized by using the Ts/VI feature space. Then,the evaporative fraction estimation using the Ts/albedo feature space,evapo-transpiration estimation using the DSTV/VI ( Diurnal Surface Temperature Variation) feature space and the feature space of the difference of surface temperature to air temperature ( Ts-Ta) and soil adjusted vegetation index ( SAVI) are all discussed. Finally the coupling of the Ts/VI feature space and microwave remote sensing data are discussed for soil surface moisture monitoring,and the further studies are proposed.