An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data
Land surface temperature (LST) images retrieved from the thermal infrared (TIR) band data of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have much lower spatial resolution than the MODIS visible and near-infrared (VNIR) band data. The coarse pixel scale of MODIS LST images (1000 m under na...
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MDPI AG
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/1/304 |
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| author | Fei Wang Zhihao Qin Wenjuan Li Caiying Song Arnon Karnieli Shuhe Zhao |
| author_facet | Fei Wang Zhihao Qin Wenjuan Li Caiying Song Arnon Karnieli Shuhe Zhao |
| author_sort | Fei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land surface temperature (LST) images retrieved from the thermal infrared (TIR) band data of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have much lower spatial resolution than the MODIS visible and near-infrared (VNIR) band data. The coarse pixel scale of MODIS LST images (1000 m under nadir) have limited their capability in applying to many studies required high spatial resolution in comparison of the MODIS VNIR band data with pixel scale of 250–500 m. In this paper we intend to develop an efficient approach for pixel decomposition to increase the spatial resolution of MODIS LST image using the VNIR band data as assistance. The unique feature of this approach is to maintain the thermal radiance of parent pixels in the MODIS LST image unchanged after they are decomposed into the sub-pixels in the resulted image. There are two important steps in the decomposition: initial temperature estimation and final temperature determination. Therefore the approach can be termed double-step pixel decomposition (DSPD). Both steps involve a series of procedures to achieve the final result of decomposed LST image, including classification of the surface patterns, establishment of LST change with normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI) and building index (NDBI), reversion of LST into thermal radiance through Planck equation, and computation of weights for the sub-pixels of the resulted image. Since the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) with much higher spatial resolution than MODIS data was on-board the same platform (Terra) as MODIS for Earth observation, an experiment had been done in the study to validate the accuracy and efficiency of our approach for pixel decomposition. The ASTER LST image was used as the reference to compare with the decomposed LST image. The result showed that the spatial distribution of the decomposed LST image was very similar to that of the ASTER LST image with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.7 K for entire image. Comparison with the evaluation DisTrad (E-DisTrad) and re-sampling methods for pixel decomposition also indicate that our DSPD has the lowest RMSE in all cases, including urban region, water bodies, and natural terrain. The obvious increase in spatial resolution remarkably uplifts the capability of the coarse MODIS LST images in highlighting the details of LST variation. Therefore it can be concluded that, in spite of complicated procedures, the proposed DSPD approach provides an alternative to improve the spatial resolution of MODIS LST image hence expand its applicability to the real world. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5398c04ac23a40948bfe4c9151b48a892022-12-22T02:10:41ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202014-12-0115130433010.3390/s150100304s150100304An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band DataFei Wang0Zhihao Qin1Wenjuan Li2Caiying Song3Arnon Karnieli4Shuhe Zhao5School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaInstitute of Agro-Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Agro-Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaThe Remote Sensing Laboratory, Department of Environmental Physics J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 84990, IsraelSchool of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaLand surface temperature (LST) images retrieved from the thermal infrared (TIR) band data of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have much lower spatial resolution than the MODIS visible and near-infrared (VNIR) band data. The coarse pixel scale of MODIS LST images (1000 m under nadir) have limited their capability in applying to many studies required high spatial resolution in comparison of the MODIS VNIR band data with pixel scale of 250–500 m. In this paper we intend to develop an efficient approach for pixel decomposition to increase the spatial resolution of MODIS LST image using the VNIR band data as assistance. The unique feature of this approach is to maintain the thermal radiance of parent pixels in the MODIS LST image unchanged after they are decomposed into the sub-pixels in the resulted image. There are two important steps in the decomposition: initial temperature estimation and final temperature determination. Therefore the approach can be termed double-step pixel decomposition (DSPD). Both steps involve a series of procedures to achieve the final result of decomposed LST image, including classification of the surface patterns, establishment of LST change with normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI) and building index (NDBI), reversion of LST into thermal radiance through Planck equation, and computation of weights for the sub-pixels of the resulted image. Since the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) with much higher spatial resolution than MODIS data was on-board the same platform (Terra) as MODIS for Earth observation, an experiment had been done in the study to validate the accuracy and efficiency of our approach for pixel decomposition. The ASTER LST image was used as the reference to compare with the decomposed LST image. The result showed that the spatial distribution of the decomposed LST image was very similar to that of the ASTER LST image with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.7 K for entire image. Comparison with the evaluation DisTrad (E-DisTrad) and re-sampling methods for pixel decomposition also indicate that our DSPD has the lowest RMSE in all cases, including urban region, water bodies, and natural terrain. The obvious increase in spatial resolution remarkably uplifts the capability of the coarse MODIS LST images in highlighting the details of LST variation. Therefore it can be concluded that, in spite of complicated procedures, the proposed DSPD approach provides an alternative to improve the spatial resolution of MODIS LST image hence expand its applicability to the real world.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/1/304pixel decompositionland surface temperaturespatial resolutionMODISASTER |
| spellingShingle | Fei Wang Zhihao Qin Wenjuan Li Caiying Song Arnon Karnieli Shuhe Zhao An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data Sensors pixel decomposition land surface temperature spatial resolution MODIS ASTER |
| title | An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data |
| title_full | An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data |
| title_fullStr | An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data |
| title_short | An Efficient Approach for Pixel Decomposition to Increase the Spatial Resolution of Land Surface Temperature Images from MODIS Thermal Infrared Band Data |
| title_sort | efficient approach for pixel decomposition to increase the spatial resolution of land surface temperature images from modis thermal infrared band data |
| topic | pixel decomposition land surface temperature spatial resolution MODIS ASTER |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/1/304 |
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