A generalized split-window algorithm for land surface temperature estimation from MSG-2/SEVIRI data

This paper aims to determine land surface temperature (LST) using data from a spinning enhanced visible and infrared imager (SEVIRI) on board Meteosat Second Generation 2 (MSG-2) by using the generalized split-window (GSW) algorithm. Coefficients in the GSW algorithm are pre-determined for several overlapping sub-ranges of the LST, land surface emissivity (LSE), and atmospheric water vapour content (WVC) using the data simulated with the atmospheric radiative transfer model MODTRAN 4.0 under various surface and atmospheric conditions for 11 view zenith angles (VZAs) ranging from 0° to 67°. The results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) varies with VZA and atmospheric WVC and that the RMSEs are within 1.0 K for the sub-ranges in which the VZA is less than 30° and the atmospheric WVC is less than 4.25 g cm−2. A sensitivity analysis of LSE uncertainty, atmospheric WVC uncertainty, and instrumental noise (NEΔT) is also performed, and the results demonstrate that LSE uncertainty can result in a larger LST error than other uncertainties and that the total error for the LST is approximately 1.21 and 1.45 K for dry atmosphere and 0.86 and 2.91 K for wet atmosphere at VZA = 0° and at VZA = 67°, respectively, if the uncertainty in the LSE is 1% and that in the WVC is 20%. The GSW algorithm is then applied to the MSG-2 – SEVIRI data with the LSE determined using the temperature-independent spectral indices method and the WVC either determined using the measurements in two split-window channels or interpolated temporally and spatially using European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) data. Finally, the SEVIRI LST derived in this paper (SEVIRI LST1) is evaluated through comparisons with the SEVIRI LST provided by the land surface analysis satellite applications facility (LSA SAF) (SEVIRI LST2) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST product (MOD11B1 LST product). The results show that more than 80% of the differences between SEVIRI LST1 and SEVIRI LST2 are within 2 K, and approximately 70% of the differences between SEVIRI LST1 and MODIS LST are within 4 K. Furthermore, compared to MODIS LST, for four specific areas with different land surfaces, our GSW algorithm overestimates the LST by up to 1.0 K for vegetated surfaces and by 1.3 K for bare soil.