Vegetation Assessment Using a Combination of Visible, Near-IR, and Thermal-Jr AVHRR Data

Twelve-hour temperature difference (thermal inertia) maps generated by rectifying and registering ascending (day) passes and descending (night) passes of the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Reslution Radiometer (AVHRR) are compared to vegetation index maps generated from the visible and near IR data from the day pass of that satellite. There appears to be significant and unique information concerning surface characteristics in the temperature difference data on the 1-km scale of the AVHRR. A scatter diagram is provided which shows the pattern of day-night temperature difference compared to vegetation index for irrigated agriculture, dry rangeland, lakes, wet areas and burned rangeland. A detailed description of the techniques employed to provide the day-night temperature maps is provided.