Surface Temperature Maps Research Articles

Using ground-based thermography to analyse surface temperature distribution and estimate debris thickness on Gran Zebrù glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, Italy)

In this paper we used ground-based thermal infrared imaging to investigate the spatial variability of surface temperatures on a mountain glacier at high spatial resolution and to estimate the supraglacial debris thickness distribution. The surveyed area is the eastern tongue of Gran Zebrù glacier, a small mountain glacier of the Ortles-Cevedale group (Italy). A FLIR E85 Thermal Camera was used to obtain a panoramic thermal image of the glacier surface on 30 September 2019 that was calibrated and georeferenced in order to obtain surface temperatures.Based on field data, debris thickness and debris surface temperature were correlated by using an exponential equation. The equation was used to estimate debris thickness on the glacier from the temperature data.The results show a spatial variability of surface temperatures, with the lowest temperatures found on snow and ice surfaces, and the highest on supraglacial debris. The estimated debris thicknesses show an inhomogeneous distribution, with a calculated mean debris thickness of 0.09 m in the areas of continous debris coverage. We found a good correspondence between measured and estimated debris thickness at 30 validation points (RMSE = 0.04 m and r = of 0.92). We demonstrated that ground-based thermal imaging can provide very high resolution maps of glacier surface temperatures and of debris thickness that can be used for the estimation of glacier ablation, with a spatial resolution more suitable than that offered by satellite data, especially for glaciers with a small area and with a heterogeneous surface.

Significance and Mapping of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) With the Aid of the Earth Engine Cloud Computing Approach

Significance and Mapping of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) With the Aid of the Earth Engine Cloud Computing Approach

Thermoreflectance Imaging of Semiconductor Lasers With a Numerical Thermal Model

High resolution surface temperature maps of a slotted surface grating laser operating at approx. 1550 nm are obtained by means of CCD-thermoreflectance imaging. The resolution is such that the temperature of the 2 µm wide ridge can be determined. Experimental temperature profiles along the ridge and in the lateral direction are provided. A 2D numerical model is developed to simulate the steady state thermal distributions in the laser. There is good agreement between the experiment and simulation. This technique allows for high-resolution imaging and will be useful where hot spots occur on laser devices.

REMOTE SENSING DATA IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

This article focuses on the issue of using data obtained through remote sensing methods in the administrative district of the municipality with extended powers of Liberec (the Czech Republic). The first part of the article discusses the question of using Earth remote sensing data for city agendas in general. Then, it presents a questionnaire, created for evaluating the needs of the Liberec municipality. This questionnaire, focusing on the use of remotely sensed data, was created on the basis of a review of relevant literature. Based on the results of the questionnaire, the following spatial information requirements were chosen to be addressed: land surface temperature map - LST (Landsat 8), vegetation index - NDVI (Sentinel 2, Planet Scope), normalized difference water index - NDWI, NDWI 2 (Sentinel 2), normalized difference built-up index - NDBI (Sentinel 2). All data obtained during the creation of this study have become part of the database of the Urban Planning and GIS Department and are available to employees of the City of Liberec.

Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes

Surface temperatures are generally higher in cities than in rural surroundings. This phenomenon, known as Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI), increases the risk of heat-related human illnesses and mortality. Past global studies analysed this phenomenon aggregated at city scale or over seasonal and annual time periods, while human impacts strongly depend on shorter term heat stress experienced locally. Here we develop a global long-term high-resolution dataset of daytime SUHI, offering an insight into the space–time variability of the urban–rural temperature differences which is unprecedented at global scale. Our results show that across urban areas worldwide over the period 2003–2020, 3-day SUHI extremes are on average more than twice as high as the warm-season median SUHI, with local exceedances up to 10 K. Over this period, SUHI extremes have increased more rapidly than warm-season medians, and averaged worldwide are now 1.04 K or 31% higher compared to 2003. This can be linked with increasing urbanisation, more frequent heatwaves, and greening of the earth, processes that are all expected to continue in the coming decades. Within many cities there are hotspots where extreme SUHI intensity is 10–15 K higher compared to relatively cooler city parts. Given the limited human adaptability to heat stress, our results advocate for mitigation strategies targeted at reducing SUHI extremes in the most vulnerable and exposed city neighbourhoods.

Reducing Scaling Effect on Downscaled Land Surface Temperature Maps in Heterogenous Urban Environments

The literature review indicates that a scaling effect does exist in downscaling land surface temperature (DLST) processes, and no substantial methods were specially developed for addressing it. In this research, the main aim is to develop a new method to reduce the scaling effect on DLST maps at high resolutions. A thermal component-based thermal spectral unmixing (TSU) model was modified and a multiple regression (REG) model was adopted to create DLST maps at high resolutions. A combined variance of red and NIR bands at a very high resolution with a difference image between upscaled LST and DLST was used to develop a new method. With two case data sets, LSTs at coarse resolutions were downscaled by using the modified TSU model and the REG model to create DLST results. The new method with a correction term expression (a linear model created by using a semi-empirical approach) was used to improve the DLST maps in the two case study areas. The experimental results indicate that the new method could reduce the root mean square error and the mean absolute error >30% and >33%, respectively, and thus demonstrate that the proposed method was effective and significant, especially reducing the scaling effect on DLST results at very high resolutions. The novel significance for the new method is directly reducing the scaling effect on DLST maps at high resolutions.

Analysis of Land Use Land Cover Changes with Land Surface Temperature Using Spatial-Temporal Data for Nagpur City, India

Abstract Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) are the most efficient tools for spatial data processing. This Spatial technique helps in generating data on natural resources such as land, forests, water, and their management with planning. The study focuses on assessing land change and surface temperature for Nagpur city, Maharashtra, for two decades. Land surface temperature and land use land cover (LULC) are determined using Landsat 8 and Landsat 7 imageries for the years 2000 and 2020. The supervised classification technique is used with a maximum likelihood algorithm for performing land classification. Four significant classes are determined for classification, i.e., barren land, built-up, vegetation and water bodies. Thermal bands are used for the calculation of land surface temperature. The land use land cover map reveals that the built-up and water bodies are increasing with a decrease in vegetation and barren land. Likewise, the land surface temperature map showed increased temperature for all classes from 2000 to 2020. The overall accuracy of classification is 98 %, and the kappa coefficients are 0.98 and 0.9 for the years 2000 and 2020, respectively. Due to urban sprawl and changes in land use patterns, the increase in land surface temperature is documented, which is a global issue that needs to be addressed.

Landsat 8 Data as a Source of High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature Maps in the Baltic Sea

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a key hydrological variable which can be monitored via satellite. One source of thermal data with a spatial resolution high enough to study sub-mesoscale processes in coastal waters may be the Landsat mission. The Thermal Infrared Sensor on board Landsat 8 collects data in two bands, which allows for the use of the well-known nonlinear split-window formula to estimate SST (NLSST) using top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) brightness temperature. To calibrate its coefficients a significant number of matchup points are required, representing a wide range of atmospheric conditions. In this study over 1200 granules of satellite data and 12 time series of in situ measurements from buoys and platforms operating in the Baltic Sea over a period of more than 6 years were used to select matchup points, derive NLSST coefficients and evaluate the results. To filter out pixels contaminated by clouds, ice or land influences, the IdePix algorithm was used with Quality Assessment Band and additional test of the adjacent pixels. Various combinations of flags were tested. The results show that the NLSST coefficients derived previously for coastal areas, characterised by a more humid atmosphere, might overestimate low SST values. Formulas derived for the Baltic Sea produced biases close to 0 °C and RMSEs in the range of 0.49–0.52 °C.

An Application of the LCZ Approach in Surface Urban Heat Island Mapping in Sofia, Bulgaria

This article presents the results of the thermal survey of the capital of Bulgaria (Sofia) carried out in August 2019, with the application of an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The study is based on the concept of local climate zones (LCZs), taking into account the influence of the features of land use/land cover and urban morphology on the urban climate. The basic spatial units used in the study are presented in the form of a regular grid consisting of 3299 cells with sides of 250 × 250 m. A total of 13 types of LCZs were identified, of which LCZs 6, 5, 8, 4, D, and A form the largest share. In the thermal imaging of the surface, a stratified sampling scheme was applied, which allowed us to select 74 cells, which are interpreted as representative of all cells belonging to the corresponding LCZ in the urban space. The performed statistical analysis of the thermal data allowed us to identify both the most thermally loaded zones (LCZs 9, 4, and 5) and the cells forming Urban Cool Islands (mainly in LCZs D and C). The average surface temperature in Sofia during the study period (in the time interval between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.) was estimated at 20.9 °C, and between the different zones it varied in the range 17.2–25.1 °C. The highest maximum values of LST (27.9–30.6 °C) were registered in LCZ 4 and LCZ 5. The relation between the spatial structure of the urban thermal patterns and urban surface characteristics was also analyzed. Regression analysis confirmed the hypothesis that as the proportion of green areas increases, surface temperatures decrease, and, vice versa, as the proportion of built-up and impermeable areas increases, surface temperatures increase. A heat load map (via applying a z-transformation to standardize the temperature values), a map of the average surface temperature, and a map of the average intensity of the heat island on the surface were generated in the GIS environment. The results of the study adequately reflect the complex spatial model of the studied phenomenon, which gives grounds to conclude that the research approach used is applicable to similar studies in other cities.

Lobster aquaculture location selection based on oceanographic conditions using remote sensing (Case study: Ciletuh Bay, Sukabumi, Indonesia)

Lobster (Panulirus spp.) is one of the marine resources that has high economic value, both locally and internationally. Ciletuh Bay has potential as a lobster cultivation location. The growth of lobsters is influenced by the conditions of the aquatic environment, especially the salinity and sea surface temperature. Remote sensing method can identify and analyse salinity and sea surface temperature. Salinity value obtained using Cilamaya algorithm, and sea surface temperature obtained using Syariz algorithm. This study aims to select a suitable location for lobster cultivation in Ciletuh Bay using a remote sensing approach. Map of salinity distribution and sea surface temperature is obtained from Landsat-8 imagery. The condition of water quality parameters in the Ciletuh Bay was quite suitable to be used as a lobster cultivation location. The distribution of salinity shows a dominance value 28.0–32.0, the distribution of sea surface temperature shows a dominance value 25.0–29.0, and the distribution of pH shows a dominance value 7.0–14.0. Based on the analysis of sea water quality parameters in Ciletuh Bay, most of the waters of Ciletuh Bay have a high suitability for lobster cultivation, covering an area of 253.01 ha.

Analysis of Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Bur Ni Geureudong Geothermal Field, Aceh, Indonesia Using Landsat 8 OLI / TIRS Images

Abstract Bur Ni Geureudong is one of geothermal areas that potentially to be developed for geothermal power plant in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Prior to the development, detail investigation based on geological, geophysical and geochemical methods are needed for estimating its potential. However, this site is located in a mountainous area with dense forests that are difficult to reach and research of geothermal exploration in site is still very poor considering its promising potential. So that the use of remote sensing method is very suitable to be done to investigate geothermal potential in these remote areas. For reconnaissance survey, Land Surface Temperature (LST) mapping using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor) image data was conducted to investigate the geothermal potential in the area. Radiometric correction, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) mapping and emissivity calculations were performed to obtain the LST map. Results show temperatures in the area ranged 17⁰C to 40⁰C, the area with high surface temperatures are caused by geothermal activities. NDVI map also shows an agreement with the high surface temperature region and they are mostly indicated by occurrence of vegetation stress. Keywords: Bur Ni Geureudong geothermal field, Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS., land surface temperature, Thermal remote sensing

Assessing the Cooling Effect of Four Urban Parks of Different Sizes in a Temperate Continental Climate Zone: Wroclaw (Poland)

Urban parks have been known to form park cooling islands (PCI), which can effectively alleviate the effect of urban heat islands (UHI) in cities. This paper presents results obtained for four different size parks in the city of Wroclaw, which is located in a temperate continental climate. The number of publications for urban areas located in this type of climate and cities is low compared to sites in hot and humid areas. Land surface temperature (LST) maps were developed from Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data acquired during three hottest weather periods between 2017 and 2019. Metrics and spatial statistics characterising the four parks selected for the analysis based on their size were calculated. These included: perimeter, area, landscape shape index (LSI) and PLC (forest area) park metrics, and Park Cooling Area (PCA), Park Cooling Efficiency (PCE), Park Cooling Gradient (PCG), Park Cooling Island (PCI) and Extended Park Cooling Island (PCIe) spatial indexes. The averaged PCIe values ranged from 2.0 to 3.6 °C, PCI from 1.9 to 3.6 °C, PCG from 0.7 to 2.2 °C, PCE from 5.3 to 11.5, and PCA from 78.8 to 691.8 ha depending on the park. The cooling distance varied from 110 m to 925 m depending on park size, forest area and land use type in the park’s vicinity. The study provides new insight into urban park cooling effects in a medium sized city located in a temperate continental climate, and the role of parks in regulation of urban temperature to mitigate the UHI effect.

Biogeochemical modelling of a tropical coastal area undergoing seasonal upwelling and impacted by untreated submarine outfall

A coupled 3D hydrodynamic-ecological model was applied to the Santa Marta Coastal Area (SMCA, Colombian Caribbean) to provide insights into the role of external stressors (e.g. wastewater outfall and upwelling) on the water quality and benthic – pelagic coupling. The model was calibrated and validated based on benthic metabolic measurements, satellite–derived chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature (SST) maps, field and literature water quality data.The model was able to reproduce the complex dynamics and fast transitions of temperature, nutrients, and phytoplankton, including the stratification and mixing periods during the non-upwelling (NUPW) and upwelling (UPW) seasons. Wide and fast changes in the temperatures and the highly flushed environment prevented excess phytoplankton growth and nutrient accumulation in the benthic and pelagic compartments. The model proved to be a reliable research tool to analyze the interactive effects of upwelling and untreated wastewater on the functioning of a tropical bay.

Roles of the physical environment in health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

RationaleMany clinical and psychological factors are known to influence the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, research on whether environmental factors, such as air pollution, noise, temperature, and blue/green spaces also influence HRQL in COPD has not been systematically investigated. ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between air pollution, road traffic noise, temperature, and distance to blue/green spaces and respiratory-specific HRQL in COPD. MethodsWe used cross-sectional data from a multicenter study in 407 stable mild-to-very severe COPD patients from Barcelona (Catalonia). Patients answered the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ). Individual residential exposure to air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and particulate matters of varying aerodynamic diameters [PM2.5, PM10, and PM2.5absorbance]), road traffic noise (Lden), and land surface temperature were estimated using long-term averages from land-use regression models, 24-h noise maps, and land surface temperature maps, respectively. We measured residential distances to blue/green spaces from the Urban Atlas. We used mixed-effect negative binomial (for CAT) and linear (for CCQ) regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, with a random effect by center. ResultsOf those patients, 85 % were male and had a mean (SD) age of 69 (9) years, CAT score of 12 (7), CCQ-total score of 1.4 (1.0), and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of 57 (18) %predicted. We found that NO2 and PM2.5absorbance were associated with worsened CAT and CCQ-mental scores, e.g., 0.15-unit change in CAT score [regression coefficient (β) = 0.15; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.26] per interquartile range in NO2 [13.7 μg/m3]. Greater distances to blue/green spaces were associated with worsened CCQ-mental scores [0.08; 0.002, 0.15]. ConclusionsOur study showed that increased air pollution, particularly NO2 and PM2.5absorbance and greater distances to blue/green spaces negatively influence HRQL in COPD patients. These findings have important implications for the WHO promotion to develop healthy cities for our future.

Temperature and skin-friction maps on a lifting hydrofoil in a propeller wake

There are at least two direct links between the friction acting on the surface of a (slightly warmer or colder) body under the influence of an incompressible flow and the temperature distribution on the surface of the body itself. The first relies on the energy equation, which connects the evolution of the temperature distribution at the wall to the action of the skin-friction field. On the other hand, the equation of passive transport of temperature perturbations at the wall unveils a direct relationship between the celerity of propagation of thermal blobs and the friction velocity. Grounding on these relationships, this paper reports about the application of different methodologies, developed to determine skin-friction fields from surface temperature maps, to the analysis of the complex flow evolution on a lifting NACA 0015 hydrofoil immersed in a non-uniform, unsteady wake induced by a marine propeller. The adopted temperature-sensitive paint technique allows obtaining the global temperature data with the appropriate, high resolution in space and time. The approach based on the energy equation leads to an unconventional, single-snapshots optical-flow-like methodology, which allows obtaining time-resolved, relative skin-friction fields. The two approaches based on the displacement of the wall temperature perturbations enable the determination of time- and phase-averaged, quantitative skin-friction fields. One approach grounds on a classical tracking of the thermal disturbances via optical flow, the other one relies on minimizing the discrepancy between the celerity of propagation of thermal fluctuations and the behavior expected according to the Taylor hypothesis. The analysis of the skin-friction fields obtained via the three uncorrelated, complementary approaches discloses the evolution and the mutual interaction of different flow structures (manifolds) over the hydrofoil surface at lifting and zero-lift conditions: the hub and tip vortices, the blade wake, the laminar separation bubble, and the separation at trailing edge.

Mapping potential fishing zones for skipjack tuna in the southern Makassar Strait, Indonesia, using Pelagic Habitat Index (PHI)

Abstract. Putri ARS, Zainuddin M, Musbir, Mustapha MA, Hidayat R. 2021. Mapping potential fishing zones for skipjack tuna in the southern Makassar Strait, Indonesia, using Pelagic Habitat Index (PHI). Biodiversitas 22: 3037-3045. Southern Makassar Strait is one of the potential fishing grounds for skipjack tuna in the Indonesian waters. Oceanographic factors become the primary factors that limit the distribution and abundance of fish. The study aimed to identify the relationship between fish distribution with sea surface temperature (SST) and primary productivity (PP) and map out the potential fishing grounds of skipjack tuna in the southern Makassar Strait. It used pelagic habitat index (PHI) analysis, which is strengthened by the results of correlation analysis in the form of generalized additive models (GAM) and Empirical cumulative distribution function (ECDF) analysis. The results showed that the distribution of skipjack tuna was significantly associated with the preferred range of SST 29-30.5°C and PP 350-400 mg C/m2/day. The potential fishing zone is well established near the coast to offshore of Barru and Polman waters (3°-6°S and 117°-119°E), with the peak season in May and October. The spatial pattern of potential fishing grounds for skipjack fishing is associated with hotspots (oceanographic preference), leading to increased feeding opportunities. This study suggests that the spatial pattern of high potential fishing zones could improve fishing, management, and conservation strategies along the southern Makassar Strait.

Day and night surface and atmospheric heat islands in a continental and temperate tropical environment

Urban areas cause several transformations in the landscape through the replacement of vegetation and permeable soils for buildings and waterproofing of surfaces. Such changes result in a different energy balance according to land use and occupation characteristics, contributing to the generation of heat islands. This research aims to compare and analyze the intensities of day and night atmospheric and surface urban heat islands in Presidente Prudente, Brazil, and in Rennes, France. These are medium-sized cities located in continental tropical and temperate climates, respectively. Air temperatures were recorded in urban built areas and in other representative areas of rural environments in both cities. Surface temperature maps were plotted using images from the Landsat 8 satellite, band 10, thermal infrared channel/TIRS 1, taken during the night and the day. The results show that atmospheric (UHI) and surface (SUHI) heat islands do not present the same characteristics and that the dynamics of each heat island varies not only throughout the day, but also depending on the region's climate, meteorological condition, location, and types of land use. The details of surface temperatures and air temperatures during the satellite passage time (day and night) through points with typical characteristics of each city show the effects of vegetation and less built-up areas on reducing the differences between air and surface temperatures, evidencing the effects of buildings on increasing air temperatures, especially at night, when atmospheric heat islands are more intense.This research is original because relations between air and surface temperatures during the day and night were not previously studied in these cities. Thus, the results of this study may contribute to improving knowledge on urban climate and surface and atmospheric heat islands aiming to provide information for the management and planning of cities with different climate and historical backgrounds.

Comparison between mental mapping and land surface temperature in two Czech cities: A new perspective on indication of locations prone to heat stress

Most studies addressing heat in urban environments focus on thermal conditions and neglect the mental component of thermal comfort. This study employs mental maps to analyse thermal (dis)comfort in the medium-sized Czech cities of Olomouc and Plzeň in summer. Locations of “mental hotspots” are identified particularly on busy streets, at transport hubs, and in the city centres. The results reveal mental hotspots as highly-frequented locations in which people experience inferior thermal and environmental conditions. Slight variations in the spatial patterns of thermal discomfort for particular groups of persons are described. Mental hotspots overlap with surface temperature hotspots by less than half of their area; differences are statistically significant and spatially modulated. Overlap areas of “mental” and “real” hotspots show a promising approach towards indication of locations prone to development of heat stress in urban areas. These findings may contribute to adaptation to climate change and to urban planning, which should address not only the physical but also the subjectively-perceived issues of thermal comfort.

A confined dynamo: Magnetic activity of the K-dwarf component in the pre-cataclysmic binary system V471 Tauri

Context.Late-type stars in close binary systems can exhibit strong magnetic activity owing to rapid rotation supported by tidal locking. On the other hand, tidal coupling may suppress the differential rotation which is a key ingredient of the magnetic dynamo.Aims.We studied the red dwarf component in the eclipsing binary system V471 Tau in order to unravel the relations between the different activity layers, from the stellar surface through the chromosphere up to the corona. Our aim is to study how the magnetic dynamo in the late-type component is affected by the close white dwarf companion.Methods.We used space photometry, high-resolution spectroscopy, and X-ray observations from different space instruments to explore the main characteristics of magnetic activity. We applied a light curve synthesis program to extract the eclipsing binary model and to analyze the residual light variations. Photometric periods were obtained using a Fourier-based period search code. We searched for flares by applying an automated flare detection code. Spectral synthesis was used to derive or specify some of the astrophysical parameters. Doppler imaging was used to reconstruct surface temperature maps, which were cross-correlated to derive surface differential rotation. We applied different conversion techniques to make it possible to compare the X-ray emissions obtained from different space instruments.Results.From the K2 photometry we found that 5–10 per cent of the apparent surface of the red dwarf is covered by cool starspots. From seasonal photometric period changes we estimated a weak differential rotation. From the flare activity we derived a cumulative flare frequency diagram which suggests that frequent flaring could have a significant role in heating the corona. Using high-resolution spectroscopy we reconstructed four Doppler images for different epochs which reveal an active longitude, that is, a permanent dominant spot facing the white dwarf. From short term changes in the consecutive Doppler images we derived a weak solar-type surface differential rotation withαDR = 0.0026 shear coefficient, similar to that provided by photometry. The long-term evolution of X-ray luminosity reveals a possible activity cycle length of ≈12.7 yr, traces of which were also discovered in the Hαspectra.Conclusions.We conclude that the magnetic activity of the red dwarf component in V471 Tau is strongly influenced by the close white dwarf companion. We confirm the presence of a permanent dominant spot (active longitude) on the red dwarf facing the white dwarf. The weak differential rotation of the red dwarf is very likely the result of tidal confinement by the companion. We find that the periodic appearance of the inter-binary Hαemission from the vicinity of the inner Lagrangian point is correlated with the activity cycle.

Eddies in motion: visualizing boundary-layer turbulence above an open boreal peatland using UAS thermal videos

Abstract. High-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) imaging is opening up new vistas in biosphere–atmosphere heat exchange studies. The rapidly developing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and specially designed cameras offer opportunities for TIR survey with increasingly high resolution, reduced geometric and radiometric noise, and prolonged flight times. A state-of-the-art science platform is assembled using a Matrice 210 V2 drone equipped with a Zenmuse XT2 thermal camera and deployed over a pristine boreal peatland with the aim of testing its performance in a heterogeneous sedge-fen ecosystem. The study utilizes the capability of the UAS platform to hover for prolonged times (about 20 min) at a height of 500 m a.g.l. while recording high frame rate (30 Hz) TIR videos of an area of ca. 430 × 340 m. A methodology is developed to derive thermal signatures of near-ground coherent turbulent structures impinging on the land surface, surface temperature spectra, and heat fluxes from the retrieved videos. The size, orientation, and movement of the coherent structures are computed from the surface temperature maps, and their dependency on atmospheric conditions is examined. A range of spectral and wavelet-based approaches are used to infer the properties of the dominant turbulent scene structures. A ground-based eddy-covariance system and an in situ meteorological setup are used for reference.