Toward an advanced physics-based scheme for retrieving land surface emissivity and temperature based on Fengyun-3D MERSI-II daytime mid-infrared data

The hybrid nature of the mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum complicates the separation of reflected solar irradiance from total energy. Consequently, existing studies rarely use MIR satellite data alone for retrieving land surface temperature (LST) and land surface emissivity (LSE). In this study, we developed What we believe to be a novel physics-based approach to retrieve LSE and LST using MIR channel data from the MEdium Resolution Spectral Imager II (MERSI-II) onboard China's new-generation polar-orbiting meteorological satellite Fengyun-3D (FY-3D). MERSI-II includes two MIR channels (channels 20 and 21) with a spatial resolution of 1 km, suitable for applying the split-window (SW) algorithm. First, considering the unequal but linearly related land surface bidirectional reflectivity (LSR) in channels 20 and 21, we propose an improved nonlinear SW algorithm. This algorithm, combined with the radiative transfer equation (RTE), accurately retrieves LSR from MIR data. Second, using a kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model, the RossThick-LiSparse-R model, we estimate hemispherical directional reflectance from the time series of LSRs (10 days) and subsequently retrieve LSE based on Kirchhoff's law. Atmospheric correction is performed using ERA-5 atmospheric reanalysis data with the radiative transfer (RT) code (MODTRAN 5.2). Finally, LST is retrieved using the RTE in the MIR spectral region. The retrieved LSR was compared with those fitted using the BRDF model, yielding a root mean square error (RMSE) < 0.006 and a bias < 0.003. Cross-validation using the MODIS LSE and LST products (MYD11C1) as a reference showed that the RMSE of the retrieved LSE over 10 days was < 0.027 with a bias < 0.023. For the retrieved LST, the RMSE was < 1.8 K with a bias < 0.7 K. Overall, the proposed method demonstrates potential for retrieving global LSE and LST from MERSI-II MIR data, contributing to advancements in related applications.