Estimation of land surface temperature from a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES‐8)

Two algorithms are developed and applied to observations from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to enable frequent estimate of Land Surface Temperature (LST) representing the diurnal cycle. The derived LSTs are evaluated against a wide range of ground observations. Both algorithms are based on radiative transfer theory; one is similar to the classical split window approach used for deriving Sea Surface Temperature (SST), while the other is a three‐channel algorithm. The three‐channel LST algorithm aims to improve atmospheric correction by utilizing the characteristics of the middle‐infrared (MIR) band. Effects of both the atmosphere and the surface emissivity are accounted for. The simulations from the proposed algorithms are compared with previously developed generalized split window algorithm, and a split window algorithm with water vapor correction. During daytime, the proposed new split window algorithm gives the best LST retrievals, while during nighttime, the proposed three‐channel algorithm gives the best retrievals, both within a Root Mean Square (RMS) error of less than 1 K and without a significant bias. Evaluations against the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) observations of radiometric surface temperatures and Surface Radiation Network (SURFRAD) observations of outgoing long wave (LW) radiation indicate that LST can be determined from the actual GOES‐8 observations within an RMS accuracy of about 1–2 K, standard error of about 1 K, and bias of less than 1 K. When evaluated against the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS) soil temperature as observed at depth of 8 in. and against air temperature observations, the amplitude of the retrieved LST is found to be significantly greater than that of the observed soil temperature, lower than the nighttime air temperature, and higher than the daytime air temperature. When the soil observations are “corrected” to account for the depth difference, they are in good agreement with the LST retrieved from the satellite observations. This indicates that observations of soil temperature, which are more readily available than measurements of “skin” temperatures, can be useful in evaluating satellite‐based estimates. The LST retrieved from both of the proposed algorithms and from a NOAA/NESDIS algorithm, are generally very close to the converted skin temperature from the SURFRAD surface outgoing LW radiation. In most cases, the newly proposed algorithm shows better agreement with ground observations.