Validation of Land Surface Temperature products derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) using ground-based and heritage satellite measurements

Thermal infrared satellite observations of the Earth's surface are widely used to retrieve Land Surface Temperature (LST) and monitor LST changes around the world. Since January 2012, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) has provided daily observations of LST with a spatial resolution of 750 m at nadir. Comparison of the standard VIIRS LST product with the equivalent daily standard product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) collection-5 and with ground-based measurements over vegetated and inland water surfaces showed good agreement. Analysis indicated the accuracy and precision of the VIIRS product over these cover types was 0.2 K and 2.0 K respectively provided the analyses included appropriate compensation for any spatial heterogeneity in LST within the validation site. However, comparisons between in situ LST and the VIIRS and MODIS LST over arid and semi-arid regions indicate both satellite products significantly underestimate the LST, and the VIIRS algorithm can have large errors in the retrieved LST over areas of high atmospheric water vapor. Errors of up to 4 K were observed over semi-arid and arid areas due to incorrect characterization of emissivity, and differences of up to 15 K were observed over areas with high atmospheric water content between the VIIRS LST and matching MODIS LST.