scholarly journals Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of a Remote-Sensing-Based Penman–Monteith Model to Meteorological and Land Surface Input Variables

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
Nobuhle P. Majozi ◽  
Chris M. Mannaerts ◽  
Abel Ramoelo ◽  
Renaud Mathieu ◽  
Wouter Verhoef

This study analysed the uncertainty and sensitivity of core and intermediate input variables of a remote-sensing-data-based Penman–Monteith (PM-Mu) evapotranspiration (ET) model. We derived absolute and relative uncertainties of core measured meteorological and remote-sensing-based atmospheric and land surface input variables and parameters of the PM-Mu model. Uncertainties of important intermediate data components (i.e., net radiation and aerodynamic and surface resistances) were also assessed. To estimate the instrument measurement uncertainties of the in situ meteorological input variables, we used the reported accuracies of the manufacturers. Observational accuracies of the remote sensing input variables (land surface temperature (LST), land surface emissivity (εs), leaf area index (LAI), land surface albedo (α)) were derived from peer-reviewed satellite sensor validation reports to compute their uncertainties. The input uncertainties were propagated to the final model’s evapotranspiration estimation uncertainty. Our analysis indicated relatively high uncertainties associated with relative humidity (RH), and hence all the intermediate variables associated with RH, like vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and the surface and aerodynamic resistances. This is in contrast to other studies, which reported LAI uncertainty as the most influential. The semi-arid conditions and seasonality of the regional South African climate and high temporal frequency of the variations in VPD, air and land surface temperatures could explain the uncertainties observed in this study. The results also showed the ET algorithm to be most sensitive to the air-land surface temperature difference. An accurate assessment of those in situ and remotely sensed variables is required to achieve reliable evapotranspiration model estimates in these generally dry regions and climates. A significant advantage of the remote-sensing-based ET method remains its full area coverage in contrast to classic-point (station)-based ET estimates.

2014 ◽  
Vol 1010-1012 ◽  
pp. 1276-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Tai Na

The three commonly used remote sensing land surface temperature retrieval methods are described, namely single-window algorithm, split window algorithm and multi-channel algorithm, which have their advantages and disadvantages. The land surface temperature (LST) of study area was retrieved with multi-source remote sensing data. LST of study area was retrieved with the split window algorithm on January 10, 2003 and November 19, 2003 which is comparatively analyzed with the LST result of ETM+data with the single-window algorithm and the LST result of ASTER data with multi channel algorithm in the same period. The results show that land surface temperature of different land features are significantly different, where the surface temperature of urban land is the highest, and that of rivers and lakes is the lowest, followed by woodland. It is concluded that the expansion of urban green space and protection of urban water can prevent or diminish the urban heat island.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Ma ◽  
Ji Zhou ◽  
Frank-Michael Göttsche ◽  
Shaofei Wang

<p>As one of the most important indicators in the energy exchange between land and atmosphere, Land Surface Temperature (LST) plays an important role in the research of climate change and various land surface processes. In contrast to <em>in-situ</em> measurements, satellite remote sensing provides a practical approach to measure global and local land surface parameters. Although passive microwave remote sensing offers all-weather observation capability, retrieving LST from thermal infra-red data is still the most common approach. To date, a variety of global LST products have been published by the scientific community, e.g. MODIS and (A)ASTR /SLSTR LST products, and used in a broad range of research fields. Several global and regional satellite retrieved LSTs are available since 1995. However, the temporal-spatial resolution before 2000 is generally considerably lower than that after 2000. According to the latest IPCC report, 1983 – 2012 are the warmest 30 years for nearly 1400 years. Therefore, for global climate change research, it is meaningful to extend the time series of global LST products with a relatively higher temporal-spatial resolution to before 2000, e.g. that of NOAA AVHRR. In this study, global daily NOAA AVHRR LST products with 5-km spatial resolution were generated for 1981-2000. The LST was retrieved using an ensemble of RF-SWAs (Random Forest and Split-Window Algorithm). For a maximum uncertainty in emissivity and water vapor content of 0.04 and 1.0 g/cm<sup>2</sup>, respectively, the training and testing with simulated datasets showed a retrieval accuracy with MBE of less than 0.1 K and STD of 1.1 K. The generated RF-SWA LST product was also evaluated against <em>in-situ</em> measurements: for water sites of the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) between 1981 and 2000, it showed an accuracy similar to that for the simulated data, with a small MBE of less than 0.1 K and a STD between 0.79 K and 1.02 K. For SURFRAD data collected between 1995 and 2000, the MBE is -0.03 K with a range of -1.20 K – 0.54 K and a STD with a mean of 2.55 K and a range of 2.08 K – 3.0 K (site dependent). As a new global historical dataset, the RF-SWA LST product can help to close the gap in long-term LST data available to climate research. Furthermore, the data can be used as input to land surface process models, e.g. the Community Land Model (CLM). In support of the scientific research community, the RF-SWA LST product will be freely available at the National Earth System Science Data Center of China (http://www.geodata.cn/).</p>


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