Images
October 27, 2008 - Land Surface Temperature Product
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The maps shown here were made using data collected during the nighttime by the MODIS, an instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. This map shows data from the MODIS on the Terra satellite from August 1 to September 1, 2008. Please note that the type of "surface" MODIS measures varies as a function of location. In some places, the measurement represents the skin temperature of the bare land surface. In other places, the temperature represents the skin temperature of whatever is on the land-including snow and ice, or the leafy canopy of forests and crop fields, or human-made structures such as pavement and building rooftops. (So these maps should not be confused with the surface air temperature values that given in typical weather reports.)
Scientists monitor land surface temperature because the warmth rising off Earth's landscapes influences our world's weather and climate patterns. Likewise, land surface temperature is also influenced by changes in weather and climate patterns. Thus, scientists routinely produce such maps to better understand the relationships between land surface temperature and changing weather and climate patterns. In particular, scientists want to monitor how the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases impacts land surface temperature. Scientists are also interested in tracking where and how glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost regions are changing as land surface temperatures change.
Commercial farmers may also use land surface temperature maps like these to evaluate water requirements for their crops during the summer, when they are prone to heat stress. Conversely, in winter such maps can help citrus farmers to determine where and when orange groves were exposed to damaging frost.
The colors on these maps represent temperature patterns of the top millimeter (or "skin") of Earth's land surface for the time period indicated. Yellow shows the warmest temperatures (up to 45°C) and light blue shows the coldest temperatures (down to -25°C). Black means "no data."
A high resolution is available here.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
Resolutions:
Bands Used:
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The maps shown here were made using data collected during the nighttime by the MODIS, an instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. This map shows data from the MODIS on the Terra satellite from August 1 to September 1, 2008. Please note that the type of "surface" MODIS measures varies as a function of location. In some places, the measurement represents the skin temperature of the bare land surface. In other places, the temperature represents the skin temperature of whatever is on the land-including snow and ice, or the leafy canopy of forests and crop fields, or human-made structures such as pavement and building rooftops. (So these maps should not be confused with the surface air temperature values that given in typical weather reports.)
Scientists monitor land surface temperature because the warmth rising off Earth's landscapes influences our world's weather and climate patterns. Likewise, land surface temperature is also influenced by changes in weather and climate patterns. Thus, scientists routinely produce such maps to better understand the relationships between land surface temperature and changing weather and climate patterns. In particular, scientists want to monitor how the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases impacts land surface temperature. Scientists are also interested in tracking where and how glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost regions are changing as land surface temperatures change.
Commercial farmers may also use land surface temperature maps like these to evaluate water requirements for their crops during the summer, when they are prone to heat stress. Conversely, in winter such maps can help citrus farmers to determine where and when orange groves were exposed to damaging frost.
The colors on these maps represent temperature patterns of the top millimeter (or "skin") of Earth's land surface for the time period indicated. Yellow shows the warmest temperatures (up to 45°C) and light blue shows the coldest temperatures (down to -25°C). Black means "no data."
A high resolution is available here.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
Resolutions:
Bands Used:
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
