scholarly journals Diurnal Cycle of Passive Microwave Brightness Temperatures over Land at a Global Scale

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 817
Author(s):  
Zahra Sharifnezhad ◽  
Hamid Norouzi ◽  
Satya Prakash ◽  
Reginald Blake ◽  
Reza Khanbilvardi
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Land Cover Types ◽  
Land Surface Emissivity ◽  
Microwave Imager ◽  
Microwave Sensors

Satellite-borne passive microwave radiometers provide brightness temperature (TB) measurements in a large spectral range which includes a number of frequency channels and generally two polarizations: horizontal and vertical. These TBs are widely used to retrieve several atmospheric and surface variables and parameters such as precipitation, soil moisture, water vapor, air temperature profile, and land surface emissivity. Since TBs are measured at different microwave frequencies with various instruments and at various incidence angles, spatial resolutions, and radiometric characteristics, a mere direct integration of them from different microwave sensors would not necessarily provide consistency. However, when appropriately harmonized, they can provide a complete dataset to estimate the diurnal cycle. This study first constructs the diurnal cycle of land TBs using the non-sun-synchronous Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) observations by utilizing a cubic spline fit. The acquisition times of GMI vary from day to day and, therefore, the shape (amplitude and phase) of the diurnal cycle for each month is obtained by merging several days of measurements. This diurnal pattern is used as a point of reference when intercalibrated TBs from other passive microwave sensors with daily fixed acquisition times (e.g., Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder, and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2) are used to modify and tune the monthly diurnal cycle to daily diurnal cycle at a global scale. Since the GMI does not cover polar regions, the proposed method estimates a consistent diurnal cycle of land TBs at global scale. Results show that the shape and peak of the constructed TB diurnal cycle is approximately similar to the diurnal cycle of land surface temperature. The diurnal brightness temperature range for different land cover types has also been explored using the derived diurnal cycle of TBs. In general, a large diurnal TB range of more than 15 K has been observed for the grassland, shrubland, and tundra land cover types, whereas it is less than 5K over forests. Furthermore, seasonal variations in the diurnal TB range for different land cover types show a more consistent result over the Southern Hemisphere than over the Northern Hemisphere. The calibrated TB diurnal cycle may then be used to consistently estimate the diurnal cycle of land surface emissivity. Moreover, since changes in land surface emissivity are related to moisture change and freeze–thaw (FT) transitions in high-latitude regions, the results of this study enhance temporal detection of FT state, particularly during the transition times when multiple FT changes may occur within a day.

scholarly journals Assessment of the consistency among global microwave land surface emissivity products

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1197-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Norouzi ◽  
M. Temimi ◽  
C. Prigent ◽  
J. Turk ◽  
R. Khanbilvardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Land Surface Emissivity ◽  
Microwave Imager

Abstract. The goal of this work is to intercompare four global land surface emissivity products over various land-cover conditions to assess their consistency. The intercompared land emissivity products were generated over a 5-year period (2003–2007) using observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer – Earth Observing System (AMSR-E), the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), and WindSat. First, all products were reprocessed in the same projection and spatial resolution as they were generated from sensors with various configurations. Then, the mean value and standard deviations of monthly emissivity values were calculated for each product to assess the spatial distribution of the consistencies/inconsistencies among the products across the globe. The emissivity products were also compared to soil moisture estimates and a satellite-based vegetation index to assess their sensitivities to changes in land surface conditions. Results show the existence of systematic differences among the products. Also, it was noticed that emissivity values in each product have similar frequency dependency over different land-cover types. Monthly means of emissivity values from AMSR-E in the vertical and horizontal polarizations seem to be systematically lower than the rest of the products across various land-cover conditions which may be attributed to the 01:30/13:30 LT overpass time of the sensor and possibly a residual skin temperature effect in the product. The standard deviation of the analyzed products was lowest (less than 0.01) in rain forest regions for all products and highest at northern latitudes, above 0.04 for AMSR-E and SSM/I and around 0.03 for WindSat. Despite differences in absolute emissivity estimates, all products were similarly sensitive to changes in soil moisture and vegetation. The correlation between the emissivity polarization differences and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values showed similar spatial distribution across the products, with values close to the unit except over densely vegetated and desert areas.

scholarly journals Assessment of the consistency among global microwave land surface emissivity products

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 9993-10013 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Norouzi ◽  
M. Temimi ◽  
C. Prigent ◽  
J. Turk ◽  
R. Khanbilvardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Land Surface Emissivity ◽  
Microwave Imager

Abstract. The goal of this work is to inter-compare a number of global land surface emissivity products over various land-cover conditions to assess their consistency. Ultimately, the discrepancies between the studied emissivity products will help interpreting the divergences among numerical weather prediction models in which land emissivity is a key surface boundary parameter. The intercompared retrieved land emissivity products were generated over five-year period (2003–2007) using observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer – Earth Observing System (AMSR-E), Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) and Windsat. First, all products were reprocessed in the same projection and spatial resolution as they were generated from sensors with various configurations. Then, the mean value and standard deviations of monthly emissivity values were calculated for each product to assess the spatial distribution of the consistencies/inconsistencies among the products across the globe. The emissivity values from four products were also compared to soil moisture estimates and satellite-based vegetation index to assess their sensitivities to the changes in land surface conditions. Results show that systematic differences among products exist and variation of emissivities at each product has similar frequency dependency at any land cover type. Monthly means of emissivity values from AMSR-E in the vertical and horizontal polarizations seem to be systematically lower across various land cover condition which may be attributed to the 1.30 a.m./p.m. overpass time of the sensor and possibly a residual skin temperature effect in the product. The standard deviation of the analysed products was the lowest (less than 0.01) in rain forest regions for all products and the highest in northern latitudes, above 0.04 for AMSR-E and SSM/I and around 0.03 for WindSat. Despite differences in absolute emissivity estimates, all products were similarly sensitive to changes in soil moisture and vegetation. The correlation between the emissivity polarization differences and NDVI values showed similar spatial distribution across the products with values close to the unit except over densely vegetated and desert areas.

scholarly journals Estimation of Consistent Global Microwave Land Surface Emissivity from AMSR-E and AMSR2 Observations

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 907-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satya Prakash ◽  
Hamid Norouzi ◽  
Marzi Azarderakhsh ◽  
Reginald Blake ◽  
Catherine Prigent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Numerical Weather Prediction Model ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Land Surface Emissivity ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

AbstractAccurate estimation of passive microwave land surface emissivity (LSE) is crucial for numerical weather prediction model data assimilation, for microwave retrievals of land precipitation and atmospheric profiles, and for a better understanding of land surface and subsurface characteristics. In this study, global instantaneous LSE is estimated for a 9-yr period from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) and for a 5-yr period from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) sensors. Estimates of LSE from both sensors were obtained by using an updated algorithm that minimizes the discrepancy between the differences in penetration depths from microwave and infrared remote sensing observations. Concurrent ancillary datasets such as skin temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and profiles of air temperature and humidity from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder are used. The latest collection 6 of MODIS skin temperature is used for the LSE estimation, and the differences between collections 6 and 5 are also comprehensively assessed. Analyses reveal that the differences between these two versions of infrared-based skin temperatures could lead to approximately a 0.015 difference in passive microwave LSE values, especially in arid regions. The comparison of global mean LSE features from the combined use of AMSR-E and AMSR2 with an independent product—Tool to Estimate Land Surface Emissivity from Microwave to Submillimeter Waves (TELSEM2)—shows spatial pattern correlations of order 0.92 at all frequencies. However, there are considerable differences in magnitude between these two LSE estimates, possibly because of differences in incidence angles, frequencies, observation times, and ancillary datasets.

Land Surface Microwave Emissivities over the Globe for a Decade

2006 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1573-1584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Prigent ◽  
Filipe Aires ◽  
William B. Rossow
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Surface Emissivity ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Land Surface Emissivity ◽  
Satellite Signal ◽  
Microwave Imager

Microwave land surface emissivities have been calculated over the globe for ~10 yr between 19 and 85 GHz at 53° incidence angle for both orthogonal polarizations, using satellite observations from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I). Ancillary data (IR satellite observations and meteorological reanalysis) help remove the contribution from the atmosphere, clouds, and rain from the measured satellite signal and separate surface temperature from emissivity variations. The method to calculate the emissivity is general and can be applied to other sensors. The monthly mean emissivities are available for the community, with a 0.25° × 0.25° spatial resolution. The emissivities are sensitive to variations of the vegetation density, the soil moisture, the presence of standing water at the surface, or the snow behavior, and can help characterize the land surface properties. These emissivities (not illustrated in this paper) also allow for improved atmospheric retrieval over land and can help evaluate land surface emissivity models at global scales.

scholarly journals A Global Analysis of Land Surface Temperature Diurnal Cycle Using MODIS Observations

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1279-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Sharifnezhadazizi ◽  
Hamid Norouzi ◽  
Satya Prakash ◽  
Christopher Beale ◽  
Reza Khanbilvardi
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface Temperature ◽  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Land Cover Types ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractDiurnal variations of land surface temperature (LST) play a vital role in a wide range of applications such as climate change assessment, land–atmosphere interactions, and heat-related health issues in urban regions. This study uses 15 years (2003–17) of daily observations of LST Collection 6 from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on board the Aqua and the Terra satellites. A spline interpolation method is used to estimate half-hourly global LST from the MODIS measurements. A preliminary assessment of interpolated LST with hourly ground-based observations over selected stations of North America shows bias and an error of less than 1 K. Results suggest that the present interpolation method is capable of capturing the diurnal variations of LST reasonably well for different land-cover types. The diurnal cycle of LST and time of occurrence of maximum temperature are computed from the spatially and temporally consistent interpolated diurnal LST data at a global scale. Regions with higher variability in the timing of maximum LST hours and diurnal amplitude are identified in this study. The global desert regions show generally small variability of the monthly mean diurnal LST range, whereas larger areas of the global land exhibit rather higher variability in the diurnal LST range during the study period. Moreover, the changes in diurnal temperature range for the study period are examined for distinct land-cover types. Analysis of the 15-yr time series of the diurnal LST record shows an overall decrease of 0.5 K in amplitude over the Northern Hemisphere. However, the diurnal LST range shows variant changes in the Southern Hemisphere.

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