Analysis of satellite–derived surface temperatures in relation to land cover and topography

Abstract

Knowledge of the surface temperature of the Earth is of great importance for a correct para– meterization of several important energy and mass transport phenomena. The land surface– atmosphere interaction–is one of the most uncertain aspects in global climate models. Because of the difficulties measuring the true surface temperature – the ‘skin’ temperature – with traditional contact thermometry, there have been rapid ad– vances in radiation–based infrared thermometry techniques. As the exchange processes of interest, sensible and latent heat fluxes, are often studied at regional scales there is a growing need for using remote–sensing techniques with thermal infrared sensors on aircraft and satellites. This quantitative analysis in the field of thermal remote–sensing, requires knowledge of object emissivities and, especially for satellite remote–sensing, a knowledge of the influence of the atmosphere.