An overview of the commonly applied evapotranspiration (ET) models using remotely sensed data is given to provide insight into the estimation of ET on a regional scale from satellite data. Generally, these models vary greatly in inputs, main assumptions and accuracy of results, etc. Besides the generally used remotely sensed multi-spectral data from visible to thermal infrared bands, most remotely sensed ET models, from simplified equations models to the more complex physically based two-source energy balance models, must rely to a certain degree on ground-based auxiliary measurements in order to derive the turbulent heat fluxes on a regional scale. We discuss the main inputs, assumptions, theories, advantages and drawbacks of each model. Moreover, approaches to the extrapolation of instantaneous ET to the daily values are also briefly presented. In the final part, both associated problems and future trends regarding these remotely sensed ET models were analyzed to objectively show the limitations and promising aspects of the estimation of regional ET based on remotely sensed data and ground-based measurements.

Land surface temperature (LST) is vital for studies of hydrology, ecology, climatology, and environmental monitoring. The radiative-transfer-equation-based single-channel algorithm, in conjunction with the atmospheric profile, is regarded as the most suitable one with which to produce long-term time series LST products from Landsat thermal infrared (TIR) data. In this study, the performances of seven atmospheric profiles from different sources (the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiomete atmospheric profile product (MYD07), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder atmospheric profile product (AIRS), the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA2), the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/Global Forecasting System (GFS), NCEP/Final Operational Global Analysis (FNL), and NCEP/Department of Energy (DOE)) were comprehensively evaluated in the single-channel algorithm for LST retrieval from Landsat 8 TIR data. Results showed that when compared with the radio sounding profile downloaded from the University of Wyoming (UWYO), the worst accuracies of atmospheric parameters were obtained for the MYD07 profile. Furthermore, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) values (approximately 0.5 K) of the retrieved LST when using the ECMWF, MERRA2, NCEP/GFS, and NCEP/FNL profiles were smaller than those but greater than 0.8 K when the MYD07, AIRS, and NCEP/DOE profiles were used. Compared with the in situ LST measurements that were collected at the Hailar, Urad Front Banner, and Wuhai sites, the RMSE values of the LST that were retrieved by using the ECMWF, MERRA2, NCEP/GFS, and NCEP/FNL profiles were approximately 1.0 K. The largest discrepancy between the retrieved and in situ LST was obtained for the NCEP/DOE profile, with an RMSE value of approximately 1.5 K. The results reveal that the ECMWF, MERRA2, NCEP/GFS, and NCEP/FNL profiles have great potential to perform accurate atmospheric correction and generate long-term time series LST products from Landsat TIR data by using a single-channel algorithm.

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter in the interaction of the land-atmosphere system. However, clouds affect the retrieval of LST data from thermal-infrared remote sensing data. Thus, it is important to determine a method for estimating LSTs at times when the sky is overcast. Based on a one-dimensional heat transfer equation and on the evolution of daily temperatures and net shortwave solar radiation (NSSR), a new method for estimating LSTs under cloudy skies (T_cloud) from diurnal NSSR and surface temperatures is proposed. Validation is performed against in situ measurements that were obtained at the ChangWu ecosystem experimental station in China. The results show that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the actual and estimated LSTs is as large as 1.23 K for cloudy data. A sensitivity analysis to the errors in the estimated LST under clear skies (T_clear) and in the estimated NSSR reveals that the RMSE of the obtained T_cloud is less than 1.5 K after adding a 0.5 K bias to the actual T_clear and 10 percent NSSR errors to the actual NSSR. T_cloud is estimated by the proposed method using T_clear and NSSR products of MSG-SEVIRI for southern Europe. The results indicate that the new algorithm is practical for retrieving the LST under cloudy sky conditions, although some uncertainty exists. Notably, the approach can only be used during the daytime due to the assumption of the variation in LST caused by variations in insolation. Further, if there are less than six T_clear observations on any given day, the method cannot be used.

Land surface temperatures (LSTs) at high-spatial resolution are significant for hydrological, meteorological, and ecological studies. An alternative method to obtain LSTs at a high-spatial resolution is to downscale LSTs from a coarse resolution to a finer resolution. In this article, we propose a new algorithm based on temperature and vegetation dryness index in combination with elevation correction to downscale Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer LST data from 1000 m to 90 m. The performance of the algorithm was assessed using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer LST data as a reference LST data set. The results show that the proposed algorithm is superior to the temperature sharpening algorithm, which is widely used nowadays. The root mean square error and mean absolute error values of downscaled LSTs decrease from 3.1 K (2.4 K) to 2.8 K (2.3 K).

Atmospheric water vapour content (WVC) is a vital parameter in the study of climate change. Various methods have been developed to derive atmospheric WVC from remotely sensed data. In this study, we compared three methods for retrieving atmospheric WVC from thermal infrared data in the Meteosat Second Generation-SEVIRI channels 9 (10.8 μm) and 10 (12.0 m). The three methods are (1) the split-window covariance-variance ratio method using a spatial moving window (method 1); (2) the split-window covariance-variance ratio method using a temporal moving window (method 2); and (3) the varying surface temperature method using split-window channel data (method 3). The derived WVC using these three methods was compared to two WVC data sets from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis data and the MODIS WVC product. Compared with these two data sets, the derived WVC using method 1 performed proved optimal. The valid pixels using methods 1 and 2 are greater than those using method 3. Furthermore, method 2 can be used to retrieve WVC over pixels where method 1 is invalid.