Surface Temperature Retrieval Research Articles

Solar zenith angle-based calibration of Himawari-8 land surface temperature for correcting diurnal retrieval error characteristics

The geostationary Himawari-8 satellite offers a unique opportunity to monitor sub-daily thermal dynamics over Asia and Oceania, and several operational land surface temperature (LST) retrieval algorithms have been developed for this purpose. However, studies have reported inconsistency between LST data obtained from geostationary and polar-orbiting platforms, particularly for daytime LST, which can arise from variations in viewing geometries and inherent differences in sensor types and LST algorithms. Despite this, previous research has primarily focused on analysing the directionality of LST without thoroughly exploring systematic differences between platforms. Hence, we presented a Solar Zenith Angle-based Calibration (SZAC) method to harmonise the daytime component of a split-window retrieved Himawari-8 LST (referred to here as the baseline) with the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST. SZAC describes the spatial heterogeneity and magnitude of diurnal LST discrepancies from different platforms, which is anticipated to complement typical directionality analyses. We evaluated the harmonised LST data, referred to as the Australian National University LST with SZAC (ANUSZAC), against MODIS LST and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) LST, as well as in-situ LST from the OzFlux network. Two peer Himawari-8 LST products from Chiba University and the Copernicus Global Land Service were also collected for comparison. The median daytime bias of ANUSZAC LST against Terra-MODIS LST, Aqua-MODIS LST and VIIRS LST was 1.52 K, 0.98 K and −0.63 K, respectively, which demonstrated improved performance compared to baseline (5.37 K, 4.85 K and 3.02 K, respectively) and Chiba LST (3.71 K, 2.90 K and 1.07 K, respectively). All four Himawari-8 LST products showed comparable performance of unbiased root mean squared error (ubRMSE), ranging from 2.47 to 3.07 K, compared to LST from polar-orbiting platforms. In the evaluation against in-situ LST, the mean values of bias (ubRMSE) of baseline, Chiba, Copernicus and ANUSZAC LST during daytime were 4.23 K (3.74 K), 2.16 K (3.62 K), 1.73 K (3.31 K) and 1.41 K (3.24 K), respectively, based on 171,289 hourly samples from 20 OzFlux sites across Australia between 01/Jan/2016 and 31/Dec/2020. In summary, the SZAC method offers a promising approach to enhance the reliability of geostationary LST retrievals by incorporating the spatiotemporal characteristics observed by accurate polar-orbiting LST data. SZAC can also reduce LST angular effects due to its capability of quantifying spatial inhomogeneity of surface heat dynamics. Furthermore, it is possible to implement SZAC using LST data acquired by geostationary satellites in other regions, e.g., Europe, Africa and Americas. This could improve our understanding of the error characteristics of coincident imageries from geostationary and polar-orbiting platforms, allowing for targeted refinements and global harmonisations to further enhance applicability.

Soil Moisture Profiles of Ecosystem Water Use Revealed With ECOSTRESS

AbstractWhile remote sensing has provided extensive insights into the global terrestrial water, carbon, and energy cycles, space‐based retrievals remain limited in observing the belowground influence of the full soil moisture (SM) profile on ecosystem function. We show that this gap can be addressed when coupling 70 m resolution ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station retrievals of land surface temperature (LST) with in‐situ SM profile measurements. These data sets together reveal that ecosystem water use decreases with depth with 93% of sites showing significant LST coupling with SM shallower than 20 cm while 34% of sites have interactions with SM deeper than 50 cm. Furthermore, the median depth of peak ecosystem water use is estimated to be 10 cm, though forests have more common peak interactions with deeper soil layers (50–100 cm) in 37% of cases. High spatial resolution remote sensing coupled with field‐level data can thus elucidate the role of belowground processes on land surface behavior.

Super-Resolution for Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Images via Cross-Scale Diffusion Model Using Reference Images

Geothermal resources are efficient, clean, and renewable energy sources. Using high-resolution images captured by remote sensing satellites for temperature retrieval and searching for geothermal anomaly areas is an efficient method. However, obtaining land surface temperature retrieval images requires multiple steps of calculation, which can result in a great loss of image information and resolution. Therefore, the super-resolution reconstruction of LST retrieval images is currently a challenge in geothermal resource exploration. Although the current super-resolution methods for LST retrieval images can appropriately restore image quality, the overall restoration of the surface temperature information in the region is still not ideal. We propose a cross-scale reference image super-resolution model based on a diffusion model using deep learning technology. First, we propose the Pre-Super-Resolution Network (PreNet), which can improve both indices and the visual effect of images. Second, to reduce the white noise in the super-resolution images, we propose the Cross-Scale Reference Image Attention Mechanism (CSRIAM). The introduction of this mechanism greatly reduces noise in the images and improves the overall image quality. Compared to previous methods, we improved both experimental indices such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity (SSIM), etc., and vision quality, and optimized the recovery of geothermal anomalies. Through our experimental results, we found that the CS-Diffusion model has a very strong ability to restore the image quality of the LST retrieval. After restoring its image quality, we can make a positive contribution to subsequent geothermal resource exploration.

Accuracy assessment of land surface temperature retrievals from remote sensing imagery: pixel-based, single and multi-channel methods

Land Surface Temperature (LST) measurements using remote sensing data are conducted using various methods, including the Single Channel Method (SCM) and the Multi-Channel Method (MCM). Emissivity, which significantly affects LST, is determined using methods such as the Correction-Based Emissivity Method (CBEM) and the Non-Linear Based Emissivity Method (NBEM). Given these factors, validating LST measurements is crucial for assessing the accuracy of data processing results. This study aims to compare LST data retrieved using SCM and MCM with various emissivity calculation methods and assess their accuracy compared to single measurements with an infrared thermometer, measurements using a grid plot, and measurements using a thermal camera with the assistance of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The results show that SCMJM&S and SCMAC did not produce optimal accuracy (>2.5K) when using the emissivity estimates from CBEM and NBEM. In contrast, MCM that adopted MCMSko, MCMQin, and MCMMao generally produced high-accuracy LST with an average difference of <1 K from actual temperatures, specifically in shrub pixels. MCM with the NDVI threshold method (NDVITHM) showed excellent results in distinguishing between vegetation and non-vegetation objects. In conclusion, MCM provides more accurate LST than SCM. Nevertheless, selecting the appropriate method should consider heterogeneity, homogeneity, and regional physiography.

Research on Extracting Multiple Feature Impervious Surface Based on Fusion of Optics and Radar

Impervious surface is an important indicator for analyzing urban expansion, measuring the degree of urbanization, and characterizing the urban ecological environment. Accurately extracting impervious surface data is of great significance to regional economic development, disaster prediction, ecological restoration, and environmental assessment. In this paper, using multi-spectral, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and surface temperature retrieval (LST) data, from the four perspectives of spectral features, time series features, SAR texture features, and coherence features, an index feature that highlights impervious surface information is constructed. The model generates a 10m impervious surface product in the urban area of Shaoguan, and verifies the accuracy of the real sample based on the 0.8m GF-2 data in the same period. The results indicate that the overall accuracy of extracting impermeable surfaces in the study area is 94%, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.92. The multi feature fusion random forest model combining optical data and SAR data has high extraction accuracy and applicability in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, which improves the misclassification of bare land and other land types as impermeable surfaces.

Research on Landsat 8 land surface temperature retrieval and spatial–temporal migration capabilities based on random forest model

Land surface temperature (LST) plays a crucial role in characterizing land surface processes and the energy balance. Accurate monitoring of spatial–temporal variations in LST holds great significance for global and regional climate change research. However, with the increasing of multi-source remote sensing data, it has become a challenging task to construct an LST model that reduces dependence on auxiliary data (such as land surface emissivity (LSE) and atmospheric water vapor content (WVC) synchronized with satellite observations. This study proposed an LST retrieval model based on random forest model (RFLSTR). The results of 10-fold cross-validation showed that the RFLSTR model had high modelling accuracy, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.99, and the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were lower than 2 K. Landsat 8 images from the Beijing area and South Korea, were utilized to assess the spatial–temporal migration performance of the RFLSTR model. Additionally, Landsat 9 images from South Korea were employed to analyse the sensor migration performance of the RFLSTR model. In conclusion, the findings highlight that the proposed RFLSTR model achieve high retrieval accuracy without relying on auxiliary data (such as LSE and WVC) synchronized with satellite observations. Moreover, the RFLSTR model exhibits robust spatial–temporal capabilities, enhancing the efficiency of LST retrieval and facilitating the utilization of satellite data.

Multi-scale remote sensing retrieval model for land surface emissivity and its impact on land surface temperature estimation

ABSTRACT As a fundamental parameter of the surface radiation process, land surface emissivity (LSE) is the most direct factor affecting the land surface temperature (LST) retrieval accuracy. Based on the measured data from 2017 to 2023, the characteristics of LSE changes were analysed, different timescale LSE retrieval models were developed, and the impact of LSE on pixel scale observational LST acquisition was evaluated by using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing images. The results show that with changes in atmospheric environmental conditions, the LSE changes are relatively less pronounced at 3.99 µm and 4.02 µm in the mid-infrared band and at 10.8 µm and 11.8 µm in the thermal infrared band than in the other bands. At the timescale above day, the LSE is significant correlation with the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI). Vegetation is the main parameter that dominates the LSE change under heterogeneous underlying surfaces. On a daily timescale, LSE exhibits typical diurnal variation characteristics, and the amplitude of diurnal variation is influenced mainly by shallow soil water and heat conditions. The developed LSE model based on Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) satellite remote-sensing data can effectively reproduce the daily variation characteristics of LST and avoid the ‘jumping’ phenomenon that may occur in the NDVI threshold method. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the retrieved LST and in situ data is reduced to 3.78°C, and the retrieval accuracy is better than that of the published LST product. When using UAVs to obtain pixel-scale LSTs, dry bare soil is more sensitive to LSE. When the LSE increases from 0.95 to 1.0, the average LST obtained by the UAV deviates by approximately 1.0°C. This study preliminarily provides some spatiotemporal variation patterns of LSE and lays a foundation for the later-modified LST retrieval algorithms.

Effects of landscape pattern on land surface temperature in Nanchang, China

The composition and configuration of landscapes are critical important to design effective approaches to mitigate urban thermal environment in the urbanization process. In this research, land use maps and land surface temperature (LST) retrieval were derived in Nanchang city of central China based on product datasets and the thermal infrared band of Landsat. The results showed that the thermal environment of Nanchang had become worse over the past two decades, that is, the proportion of area of the extremely low temperature zone (ELTZ) decreased from 4.39 to 0.77% from 2001 to 2020, and that of medium temperature zone (MTZ) reduced by 20%, whereas those of the high temperature zone (HTZ) and the extremely high temperature zone (EHTZ) increased sharply after 2001, and by 2020, the area ratio increased by 11% and 7.16%, respectively. The agricultural land (AL) area decreased from 68.44 to 49.69%, was gradually replaced by construction land (CL). The CL occupied the largest proportion in EHTZ, HTZ and slight high temperature zone (SHTZ); water landscape (WL) and green land (GL) occupied the largest proportion in ELTZ, low temperature zone (LTZ); and AL occupied the largest proportion in SHTZ, MTZ, and slight low temperature zone (SLTZ). Landscape configuration also obviously impacted on LST. The model fitting was well (R = 0.87) between land use area and LST by multiple regression analysis. The significant correlation between LST and six landscape pattern indices of CL (p < 0.01) indicated that the larger percent (PLANT, R = 0.78) and the more concentrate (LPI, R = 0.73) of CL implied the higher LST, while the more fragment (NP, R = − 0.45), dispersed and complex shape (R = − 0.35) were benefit to relieve LST. Contrastively, the larger percent and the more concentrated and complex shape distribution of AL, GL and WL, the lower LST (p < 0.01). In addition, LST had closely correlation with landscape level indices such as aggregation degree (AI, R = 0.44) and diversity (SHDI, R = − 0.60) (p < 0.01).

Diurnal to Decadal Variability in Land Surface and Air Temperature Gradient from 2002 to 2022 over the Contiguous United States

Abstract The surface and air temperature gradient (TS00 − Tair) drives the development of the convective boundary layer and the occurrence of clouds and precipitation. However, its variability is still poorly understood due to the lack of high-quality observations. This study fills in this gap by investigating the diurnal to decadal variability in TS00 − Tair from 2002 to 2022 based on hourly observations collected at over 100 stations of the U.S. Climate Reference Network. It is found that TS00 − Tair reaches its maximum at noon with an average of 6.85°C over the contiguous United States, which decreases to 4.28°C when the soil moisture exceeds 30%. The daily minimum of TS00 − Tair has an average of −2.08°C, which generally occurs in the early evening but is postponed as the cloud fraction decreases. Moreover, while existing studies have used the near-surface soil temperature, such as the 5-cm soil temperature (TS05), to calculate TS05 − Tair, we find that TS00 − Tair and TS05 − Tair have opposite diurnal cycles, and their amplitudes differed drastically. The daily minimum of TS00 − Tair has a significant decreasing trend (−0.50° ± 0.007°C decade−1) from 2002 to 2022 due to Tair increasing at a higher rate than TS00 during the nighttime. The occurrence frequency of near-surface stable conditions (TS00 − Tair &lt; 0) increases significantly, and the frequency of unstable conditions (TS00 − Tair &gt; 0) decreases notably throughout the year except for winter. When it is stable, the magnitude of TS00 − Tair tends to decrease while the TS00 − Tair tends to increase when it is unstable, which is consistent with the drying condition caused by the precipitation deficit. This study provides the first observational evidence on how TS00 − Tair responds to warming. Significance Statement The impact of global warming on surface-air temperature gradients is a crucial scientific issue that needs to be addressed. These gradients determine changes in cloud and precipitation, affecting water resources. However, traditional surface temperature measurements from weather stations are of high uncertainty due to direct exposure to the insolation. Satellite retrieval of surface temperature is limited by the availability of clear sky conditions, with low accuracy for temperature gradient calculations. Despite their importance, high-accuracy data of land surface temperature are still lacking. To address this issue, the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) uses infrared radiometers to continuously monitor surface temperature with high accuracy and sampling frequency. This study reports on surface-air temperature gradients at more than 100 U.S. stations, providing insight into diurnal to decadal variability over the contiguous United States. The study also highlights the significant difference between the land surface temperature–air temperature gradient and soil temperature–air temperature gradient.

A normal form for synchronous land surface temperature and emissivity retrieval using deep learning coupled physical and statistical methods

The innovative normal form, named deep learning-couple-physical and statistical methods (DL-C-PS), has been developed for synchronously retrieving land surface temperature and emissivity (LST&E) from Japan's geostationary meteorological satellite Himawari-8 carrying the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI). First, geophysical logical reasoning (GLR) and expert knowledge were used to formulate radiative transfer equations (RTEs). Then, a hybrid approach integrating physical and statistical methods was employed to derive the solution, with deep learning (DL) optimizing the solution process. Three band combination schemes were designed to assess the effectiveness of the DL-C-PS normal form. Simulation data from the MODerate spectral resolution atmospheric TRANsmittance mode (MODTRAN) yielded promising results during validation. Root mean square error (RMSE) values were below 1 K for LST and below 0.008 for LSE when using band combinations of four thermal infrared (TIR) bands or at least three TIR bands combined with water vapor information. Cross-validation and in situ validation showed consistent findings with simulation validation. Compared to MODIS LST&E products (MYD21), in most cases, the RMSE values for LST&E were approximately 2 K and less than 0.015 during daytime, and below 1.3 K and 0.017 during night, respectively. Validated against in situ observations, nighttime RMSE values for LST were approximately 1.5 K with correlation coefficient (R) values better than 0.93. The higher RMSE observed in daytime compared to nighttime can be attributed to the influence of the sun's illumination angle on satellite scanning imaging. Overall, this research presented a normal form for multi-parameter estimation by leveraging the optimal calculation of DL and incorporating physical interpretations.

High-resolution (1 km) all-sky net radiation over Europe enabled by the merging of land surface temperature retrievals from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites

Abstract. Surface net radiation (SNR) is a vital input for many land surface and hydrological models. However, most of the current remote sensing datasets of SNR come mostly at coarse resolutions or have large gaps due to cloud cover that hinder their use as input in models. Here, we present a downscaled and continuous daily SNR product across Europe for 2018–2019. Long-wave outgoing radiation is computed from a merged land surface temperature (LST) product in combination with Meteosat Second Generation emissivity data. The merged LST product is based on all-sky LST retrievals from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) onboard the geostationary Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite and clear-sky LST retrievals from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) onboard the polar-orbiting Sentinel-3A satellite. This approach makes use of the medium spatial (approx. 5–7 km) but high temporal (30 min) resolution, gap-free data from MSG along with the low temporal (2–3 d) but high spatial (1 km) resolution of the Sentinel-3 LST retrievals. The resulting 1 km and daily LST dataset is based on an hourly merging of both datasets through bias correction and Kalman filter assimilation. Short-wave outgoing radiation is computed from the incoming short-wave radiation from MSG and the downscaled albedo using 1 km PROBA-V data. MSG incoming short-wave and long-wave radiation and the outgoing radiation components at 1 km spatial resolution are used together to compute the final daily SNR dataset in a consistent manner. Validation results indicate an improvement of the mean squared error by ca. 7 % with an increase in spatial detail compared to the original MSG product. The resulting pan-European SNR dataset, as well as the merged LST product, can be used for hydrological modelling and as input to models dedicated to estimating evaporation and surface turbulent heat fluxes and will be regularly updated in the future. The datasets can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8332222 (Rains, 2023a) and https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8332128 (Rains, 2023b).

Retrieval of Plateau Lake Water Surface Temperature from UAV Thermal Infrared Data

The lake water surface temperature (LWST) is a critical parameter influencing lake ecosystem dynamics and addressing challenges posed by climate change. Traditional point measurement techniques exhibit limitations in providing comprehensive LWST data. However, the emergence of satellite remote sensing and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Thermal Infrared (TIR) technology has opened new possibilities. This study presents an approach for retrieving plateau lake LWST (p-LWST) from UAV TIR data. The UAV TIR dataset, obtained from the DJI Zenmuse H20T sensor, was stitched together to form an image of brightness temperature (BT). Atmospheric parameters for atmospheric correction were acquired by combining the UAV dataset with the ERA5 reanalysis data and MODTRAN5.2. Lake Water Surface Emissivity (LWSE) spectral curves were derived using 102 hand-portable FT-IR spectrometer (102F) measurements, along with the sensor’s spectral response function, to obtain the corresponding LWSE. Using estimated atmospheric parameters, LWSE, and UAV BT, the un-calibrated LWST was calculated through the TIR radiative transfer model. To validate the LWST retrieval accuracy, the FLIR Infrared Thermal Imager T610 and the Fluke 51-II contact thermometer were utilized to estimate on-point LWST. This on-point data was employed for cross-calibration and verification. In the study area, the p-LWST method retrieved LWST ranging from 288 K to 295 K over Erhai Lake in the plateau region, with a final retrieval accuracy of 0.89 K. Results demonstrate that the proposed p-LWST method is effective for LWST retrieval, offering technical and theoretical support for monitoring climate change in plateau lakes.

High-precision retrieval of offshore sea surface temperature: A machine learning framework based on MODIS and in-situ measurements

High-precision sea surface temperature (SST) data is essential for monitoring and management of offshore environment. SST retrievals from thermal infrared remote sensing have the advantages in time frequency and space coverage over measurements from ships and buoys. However, traditional SST retrieval models are not fully applicable for offshore waters where seawater conditions change a lot, due to simple functional forms and empirical fitting of model parameters. Machine learning (ML) is introduced because it doesn’t need to define specific model rules or unknown parameters, which is more intelligent to deal with complex retrieval problems in a data-driven way. But the applicability of ML has not been investigated in the North Yellow Sea of China, and the selection of driving features for model construction has not been fully discussed. Here, we designed a high-precision SST retrieval framework based on random forest (RF) with optimal feature combination using MODIS data and in-situ SST measurements during 2013–2020 in the northern part of the North Yellow Sea. The performances of different feature combinations were assessed based on model testing accuracies and the RF output feature importance. Compared with previous ML-based SST retrieval studies, we added two time-related features (i.e., day of the year and month) and one feature as initial temperature (i.e., SST retrieval from split-window algorithm), which reduced the testing error by around 15 % and 11 %, respectively. The retrieval results were validated with in-situ measurements, showing that the RF model achieved better accuracies (R2 = 0.987, SD = 0.842 °C, MAE = 0.675 °C, RMSE = 0.841 °C) than the improved split-window algorithm (named as ISW) and deep neural network. Compared with ISW, the spatial distribution of RF retrieval map exhibited similar variation across four seasons, mainly differed in the coastal areas or at the formation of temperature fronts. Note that the constructed RF model was still reliable when applied to the independent samples in 2021. This study contributes to improve the accuracy of offshore SST retrieval under different seawater conditions and provides references for SST monitoring.

Simultaneous Retrieval of Land Surface Temperature and Soil Moisture Using Multichannel Passive Microwave Data

Simultaneous Retrieval of Land Surface Temperature and Soil Moisture Using Multichannel Passive Microwave Data

A new Spatially and Temporally Continuous Antarctic Ice-sheet Surface Temperature Retrieval Method from Passive Microwave Swath Data

A new Spatially and Temporally Continuous Antarctic Ice-sheet Surface Temperature Retrieval Method from Passive Microwave Swath Data

Comparison of Nighttime Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Using Mid-Infrared and Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Data Under Different Atmospheric Water Vapor Conditions

Comparison of Nighttime Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Using Mid-Infrared and Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Data Under Different Atmospheric Water Vapor Conditions

Optimizing Back-Propagation Neural Network to Retrieve Sea Surface Temperature Based on Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm

Sea surface temperature (SST) constitutes a pivotal physical parameter in the investigation of atmospheric, oceanic, and air–sea exchange processes. The retrieval of SST through satellite passive microwave (PMW) technology effectively mitigates the interference posed by cloud cover, addressing a longstanding challenge. Nevertheless, conventional functional representations often fall short in capturing the intricate interplay of factors influencing SST. Leveraging neural networks (NNs), known for their adeptness in tackling nonlinear and intricate problems, holds great promise in SST retrieval. Nonetheless, NNs exhibit a high sensitivity to initial weights and thresholds, rendering them susceptible to local optimization issues. In this study, we present a novel machine learning (ML) approach for SST retrieval using PMW measurements, drawing from the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) and Back-Propagation neural network (BPNN) methodologies. The core premise involves the optimization of the BP neural network’s initial weights and thresholds through an enhanced SSA algorithm employing various optimization strategies. This optimization aims to provide superior parameters for the training of the BP neural network. Employing AMSR2 brightness temperature data, sea surface wind speed data, and buoy SST measurements, we construct the ISSA-BP model for sea surface temperature retrieval. The validation of the ISSA-BP model against the test data is conducted and compared against the multiple linear regression (MLR) model, an unoptimized BP model, and an unimproved SSA-BP model. The results manifest an impressive R-squared (R2) value of 0.9918 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.8268 °C for the ISSA-BP model, attesting to its superior accuracy. Furthermore, the ISSA-BP model was applied to retrieve global sea surface temperatures on 15 July 2022, yielding an R2 of 0.9926 and an RMSE of 0.7673 °C for the OISST product on the same day, underscoring its excellent concordance. The results indicate that SST can be efficiently and accurately retrieved using the model proposed in this paper, based on satellite PMW measurements. This finding underscores the potential of employing machine learning algorithms for SST retrieval and offers a valuable reference for future studies focusing on the retrieval of other sea surface parameters.

Comparative analysis of two parameter-dependent split window algorithms for the land surface temperature retrieval using MODIS TIR observations

MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) product is extensively used in agricultural studies like crop health assessment, soil moisture estimation, irrigation management, land use land cover change, air-temperature retrieval and crop water stress detection. Numerous studies have used Split Window (SW) algorithms to retrieve LST from MODIS TIR bands. Among them, some utilize Sensor View Angle Dependent (SVAD) or Columnar Water Vapor Dependent (CWVD) SW algorithms. Present study aims to make use of SVAD and CWVD SW algorithms and compare them to evaluate the LST retrieval accuracy over various land surface type. Theoretical accuracy assessment of the CWVD and SVAD algorithms demonstrates a good accuracy with the RMSE of 1.09K and 1.42K, respectively. The experimental retrieval of LST achieves exceptionally good accuracy, with a RMSE of 1.45K in the CWVD algorithm and 1.80K in the SVAD algorithm, particularly in heterogeneous regions. In homogeneous regions, the RMSE values are 1.14K in CWVD and 1.10K in SVAD. Both algorithms exhibit satisfactory accuracy; nevertheless, the application of these algorithms may vary in agricultural contexts. Based on the obtained results and the inclusion of required parameters, we have arrived at a conclusion regarding the superior performance of the SVAD compared to the CWVD for LST retrieval.

Evaluating Landsat-9 TIRS-2 calibrations and land surface temperature retrievals against ground measurements using multi-instrument spatial and temporal sampling along transects

High-resolution TIR data are essential for a wide range of studies, e.g., in environmental monitoring, urban effects, water stress, agricultural productivity, and land/water resources. Landsat series provides high-resolution TIR data, but data accuracy must be ensured to contribute to these fields. After the calibration problems of Landsat 8 (L8) TIRS due to a stray light effect, efforts were made in the design of Landsat 9 (L9) TIRS-2 to mitigate this effect. In any case, field calibration and validation activities are necessary to evaluate the accuracy of recently launched sensors. These activities require high-quality ground TIR radiance data that are representative at satellite spatial resolution and that quantify spatial–temporal fluctuations at the experimental sites concurrently to satellite overpasses. However, these requirements are not always accomplished in the literature.This paper provides vicarious calibrations of the L9 TIRS-2 data with accurate ground measurements acquired using multi-instrument spatial and temporal sampling in a rice paddy area from December 2021 to August 2023, in order to contribute to the calibration and validation of L9 TIRS-data.In March 1, 2023 L9 TIRS-2 scenes started to be reprocessed and calibration was updated. Both the original calibration and that after reprocessing were evaluated. Close results were obtained for band 10 (b10). When comparing satellite brightness temperatures and those determined from in situ LSTs, systematic differences of −0.3 K were shown, with root-mean-square differences (RMSDs) of 0.5 K. Results for band 11 showed a bias of −0.1 K for the original data and of 0.2 K after the reprocessing, with RMSDs of 0.6 K.The L2 LST product generated operationally from b10 data was also evaluated, together with alternative single-channel (SC) algorithms. A bias (RMSD) of 0.4 K (1.1 K) was obtained for the product. However, negative biases were shown both with the radiative transfer equation used on b10 radiances and the alternative SC algorithm.Finally, we validated six types of split-window (SW) algorithms applied to L9 TIRS-2 data before and after the reprocessing. A systematic difference of about −0.6 K between SW LST biases when using the reprocessed and original data was observed. In any case, for most of the algorithms with original and reprocessed data, LST biases and standard deviations were within the recommended threshold of 1 K, which proves the good performance of L9 TIRS-2 data to monitor LST at high spatial resolution.

Satellite-Based Optimization and Planning of Urban Ventilation Corridors for a Healthy Microclimate Environment

Urban ventilation corridors (UVCs) have the potential to effectively mitigate urban heat islands and air pollution. Shanghai, a densely populated city located in eastern China, is among the hottest cities in the country and requires urgent measures in order to enhance its ventilation system. This study introduces a novel approach that integrates land surface temperature retrieval, PM2.5 concentration retrieval, and wind field simulation to design UVCs at the city level. Through remote sensing data inversion of land surface temperature (LST) and PM2.5 concentration, the study identifies the action spaces and compensation spaces for UVCs. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, coupled with the multilayer urban scheme Building Effect Parameterization (BEP) model, is employed to numerically simulate and analyze the wind field. Based on the identification of thirty high-temperature zones and high PM2.5 concentration zones as action spaces, and twenty-two low-temperature zones and low PM2.5 concentration zones as compensation spaces in Shanghai, the study constructs seven first-class ventilation corridors and nine secondary ventilation corridors according to local circulation patterns. Unlike previous UVC research, this study assesses the cleanliness of cold air, which is a common oversight in UVC planning. Ignoring the assessment of cold air cleanliness can result in less effective UVCs in improving urban air quality and even exacerbate air pollution in the central city. Therefore, this study serves as a crucial contribution by rectifying this significant deficiency. It not only provides a fresh perspective and methodology for urban-scale ventilation corridor planning but also contributes to enhancing the urban microclimate by mitigating the effects of urban heat islands and reducing air pollution, ultimately creating a livable and comfortable environment for urban residents.