A Thermal Infrared Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Algorithm for Thin Cirrus Skies Using Cirrus Optical Properties

To acquire daytime land surface temperature (LST) in thin cirrus cloudy skies, we have developed a three-channel LST retrieval algorithm based on a widely used two-channel LST retrieval algorithm for the clear-sky conditions. In this algorithm, the LST is expressed as a multiple linear function of MODIS channels 29, 31 and 32 with the coefficients of the linear function dependent on the cirrus optical depth (COD) and cirrus effective radius (R). The influences from land surface emissivities (LSEs) are also considered in this algorithm. The simulated dataset shows that the LST could be estimated using the proposed algorithm with the root mean squire error (RMSE) less than 2.2 K in thin cirrus cloudy skies (COD less than 0.7) when viewing zenith angle (VZA) equivalent to 0°. As VZA is equivalent to 60°, the maximum RMSE are 2.7 K. The widely used generalized split-window (GSW) algorithm proposed for clear-sky conditions are used in cirrus cloudy skies, and the RMSEs of GSW algorithm estimated LST are 16.89 K and 22.32 K for VZA =0° and VZA =60° respectively when COD is 0.7. It indicates that the proposed three-channel algorithm can significantly improve the LST retrieval accuracy using thermal infrared data in cirrus cloudy skies. To estimate the LST errors caused by the uncertainties of COD, R, LSE and instrument noise, a sensitivity analysis was performed. It shows that the accuracy of cirrus COD is more important for the retrieval of LST compared with other parameters. The maximum total LST errors, taking into account all the input parameters' uncertainty and algorithm error itself, are 3.8 K and 4.3 K when VZA =0° and VZA =60° respectively.