Using NOAA/AVHRR data to determine regional net radiation and soil heat fluxes over the heterogeneous landscape of the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

In this study, a parameterization methodology based on NOAA/AVHRR (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer) data and field observations is described and tested for deriving the regional surface reflectance, surface temperature, net radiation flux and soil heat flux over a heterogeneous landscape. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the Tibetan Plateau area. Two scenes of NOAA/AVHRR data were used in this study. The derived results were also validated using the ‘ground truth’. The results show that reasonable regional distribution of surface variables (surface reflectance and surface temperature), net radiation flux and soil heat flux over the heterogeneous landscape of the Tibetan Plateau can be obtained by using this methodology. Further improvement of the methodology was also discussed.