Thermal brightness temperature and surface-temperature limits
A Landsat thermal-band TOA radianceL_λ>0 maps to product brightness temperature T_B=K₂/ln(K₁/L_λ+1), using its band-specific metadata constants.
Key knowledge
A Landsat thermal-band TOA radianceL_λ>0 maps to product brightness temperature T_B=K₂/ln(K₁/L_λ+1), using its band-specific metadata constants. Brightness temperature is the equivalent blackbody temperature for the specified radiance/band convention; atmospheric effects and surface emissivity separate it from the physical temperature of the ground or sea surface.
Values and equations
T_B=K₂/ln(K₁/L_λ+1)
- T_B,K₂
- brightness temperature and band conversion temperature constant K
- L_λ,K₁
- TOA spectral radiance and matching band constant W m⁻² sr⁻¹ μm⁻¹
Conditions and scope
- K₁ and L_λ use matching radiance units,K₂ is in kelvin and the applicable sensor/product conversion is specified. Treat valid unsaturated observations and actual response/calibration uncertainty.
- Surface-temperature retrieval requires a named atmospheric/emissivity model and validation. Subpixel temperature mixtures are generally nonlinear in radiance, so the brightness temperature of a mixed pixel is not automatically the arithmetic mean physical temperature.
Sources · 1
References
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Evidence and review
Read actual Brightness Temperature formula and definitions in USGS Level-1 guidance. Restated the equivalent-radiance interpretation with the already established Planck model and disclosed mixture nonlinearity; no present collection surface-temperature algorithm or universal emissivity correction claimed.
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Entry details
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