IRSUTE: A Minisatellite Project for Land Surface Heat Flux Estimation from Field to Regional Scale

摘要: Abstract Thermal infrared remote sensing has proved its usefulness in various environmental applications, including the evaluation of surface heat fluxes exchanged between continental biosphere and lower atmosphere. The concept a minisatellite, IRSUTE, been evaluated. It is designed to allow derivation accurate (±50 W m −2 or ±0.8 mm/d water evaporation) estimates flux at field scale (near 40 m). Such will be useful for meteorological, hydrological, agricultural studies. instrument also monitoring, example, frost mapping, forest fires, volcano activity, thermal pollution, etc. IRSUTE further elaborated by conducting scientific studies (modeling canopy radiative temperature, method estimation, ergodicity problem, emissivity natural surfaces, correction atmospheric effect), analyzing methodological aspects (definition pixel size, overpass time, time repeat cycle, analysis angular effects) system specification (superposition error MTF effects assessment). These have resulted definition feasible corresponding minisatellite category (95 kg), with high spatial resolution (40 m), four bands domain (3.5–4.0 μm three 8.2 11.0 μm, two options), 1-day revisit, an orbite altitude 540 km. narrow ground swath km) precludes global coverage; as result focus on set test-sites. phase A study now complete. main elements are defined. This article describes mission characteristics experimental results which led chosen specifications.