Estimating surface temperatures from satellite thermal infrared data—A simple formulation for the atmospheric effect

Abstract

In recent years the availability of high spatial resolution thermal infrared data from satellites has prompted the use of energy budget models relating satellite-derived surface temperatures to surface moisture, near-surface thermal inertia, energy exchange with the atmosphere, etc. However, correction of the high spatial resolution satellite data for atmospheric water vapor effects can represent a substantial computational burden unless simplifying assumptions are utilized. A simple formulation is developed and its applicability tested by application to standard meteorological soundings at a time near the overpass of an NOAA operational satellite. It appears that reasonable estimates of surface temperature (±2–3°C) are readily obtained for areas of order 100–300 km 2.