Evaluating Evaporation with Satellite Thermal Data.
Abstract
Water surface temperatures can be obtained from satellite thermal remote sensing. Landsat and other satellites sense emitted thermal infrared radiation on a regular basis over much of the earth's surface. Evaporation is accomplished by the net transport of mass from the water surface to the atmosphere. Energy for the change of state in part comes from the subsurface and passes through the surface conduction layer. The latent transfer (evaporation) predominantly determines the water surface temperature. There should be good correlations between evaporation and surface temperatures. Satellite thermal data and evaporation data from four different years were obtained for the Great Salt Lake and surrounding region. More than 350 correlation and linear regression analyses were performed on the temperature and evaporation data. These included daily, multiple-day, and monthly values from measurements and modeling for the whole lake and areas within the lake using both day and night observations. The lake salt concentrations were also factored into the analyses in several different ways. The correlation results were generally very good and a methodology for using satellite-derived water surface temperatures along with salt concentrations were developed to estimate evaporation. Continuing efforts now include acquiring thermal data at less cost, more frequently and more quickly in order to apply the temperature evaporation models in near real time to lakes and the ocean.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA192042
Entities
People
- A. W. Miller
- Eric L. Mills
Organizations
- Brigham Young University