Land Surface Temperature
EO Capability Benefits
Land Surface Temperature (LST) is a central upstream dataset for a wide range of applications across various thematic areas, including agricultural monitoring and urban heat. Especially when monitored over longer time periods, LST data can be an important indicator to quantify the impacts of climate change, as well as the effectiveness of localised adaptation measures such as large-scale urban greening campaigns.
EO Capability Description
Land Surface Temperature (LST) is primarily derived using thermal infrared (TIR) sensors mounted on satellites. These sensors measure the thermal radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface which is then used to calculate LST in Kelvin (often in scientific contexts) or Celsius (more intuitive). Native spatial resolutions of LST products range from 100 m for Landsat-8’s TIRS to several kilometers for other sensors such as Sentinel-3’s Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR).
LST is utilised in agricultural monitoring to identify potential periods of crop stress and predict crop yields when combined with soil moisture and other data. It serves as an input into energy balance-based evapotranspiration models and various drought indices. It can also be used to infer the intensity of the Urban Heat Island effect, for instance, in combination with Built-up Extent.
Spatial resolutions are frequently upsampled to 30m or higher to allow for more granular applications. Thermal imaging capabilities by the private sector are in the process of expanding, significantly allowing for applications not previously possible due to much higher spatial resolutions and revisit times.
Indicative Cost Range
Free or from ~10.00 EUR/km²
