Publications

Gao, CX; Qiu, S; Li, CR; Tang, LL; Ma, LL; Qian, YG; Zhao, YG; Ren, L (2019). Evaluation of land surface temperature by comparing FY-3C/VIRR with Terra/MODIS and MSG/SEVIRI data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING, 40(6-May), 1779-1792.

Abstract
Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter in the physics of land surface processes on a regional and global scale, as it combines the results of all surface-atmospheric interactions and energy fluxes between the atmosphere and the ground. Due to discrepancies in retrieval methods, input parameters, and sensor characteristics, various LST products are different from each other. As one of the important LST contributors, the operational LST product from the visible and infrared radiometer (VIRR) onboard Feng Yun 3C satellite (denoted as VIRR LST1) has not been comprehensively assessed, and the detailed LST retrieval accuracy is still unknown to the public. Taking this into consideration, a new group of VIRR LST (denoted as VIRR LST2) was derived using a generalized split-window method for operational use. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the consistency between VIRR LST1 and VIRR LST2 in detail using the LSTs derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) data over the study area (from 11 degrees W to 2 degrees E and 32 degrees N to 44 degrees N). Several LST images in different seasons were used and registered in space, viewing time, and viewing geometry. After that, the LST differences in day-variation, land-cover types, and viewing zenith angles (VZAs) were also investigated. The results indicate that the differences between VIRR LST1 (or VIRR LST2) and MODIS LST were within 2.80K, and the corresponding values between VIRR LST1 (or VIRR LST2) and SEVIRI LST were within 3.30K. The VIRR LST1 was always underestimated, and VIRR LST2 was overestimated during the exuberant vegetation day. Furthermore, the mean differences between VIRR LST1 (or VIRR LST2) and MODIS LST for bare soil were larger than those for vegetation since the land surface emissivity for bare soil was often not well produced. On the other hand, the variation was not pronounced when comparing VIRR LST1 (or VIRR LST2) and SEVIRI LST, which could be caused by many more mixed pixels in the SEVIRI data set. In addition, the LST differences seemed to VZA dependent.

DOI:
10.1080/01431161.2018.1460514

ISSN:
0143-1161