Microwave emissivity retrieval from SSM/I data over land in China

The technique is developed to retrieval microwave emissivity over land in China by using SSM/I spaceborne microwave radiometer data and multi-channel brightness temperature data. SSM/I multi-channel data acquired in July 20^th/24^th 1997 are processed, and the land microwave emissivity map of China is generated. Further more, the emissivity characteristics of land cover types are analyzed. The results show that different types of land covers have their own characteristic emissivity. Vegetation, surface roughness and water content are the main factors affecting land emissivity. This study provides a new method for macro and quick global change study (e.g. vegetation cover, hydrology etc.)