High-resolution Gulf water skin temperature estimation using TIR\ASTER

Abstract

Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is the highest-resolution multi-spectral thermal infrared (TIR) sensor currently available on a polar-orbiting spacecraft which allows surface temperature estimation, at a spatial scale (90 m) that is suitable for detail studies. Water skin temperatures are estimated using five thermal infrared channels collected by the ASTER. In present article, an algorithm which converts the radiance values, that have been observed by the sensor, into the corresponding brightness temperature values, is documented. A possible relationship between estimated temperature and gulf morphologic features is investigated. Based on temperature variation, the Gulf of Khambat region is classified to separate geomorphic features. It is demonstrated that high resolution water skin temperature of small water bodies can be determined correctly, economically and less laboriously using space-based TIR/ASTER and that estimated temperature can be effectively used as an additional parameter to map certain morphometric features.