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Title: The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8: Design overview and pre-launch characterization

Author
item REUTER, D. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item RICHARDSON, C. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item PELLERANO, F. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item IRONS, J. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item ALLEN, R.G. - University Of Idaho
item Anderson, Martha
item JHABVALA, M. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item LUNSFORD, A. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item MONTANARO, M. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item SMITH, R. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item TESFAYE, Z. - Collaborator

Submitted to: Remote Sensing
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2014
Publication Date: 1/19/2015
Citation: Reuter, D., Richardson, C., Pellerano, F., Irons, J., Allen, R., Anderson, M.C., Jhabvala, M., Lunsford, A., Montanaro, M., Smith, R., Tesfaye, Z. 2015. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8: Design overview and pre-launch characterization. Remote Sensing. 7:1135-1153.

Interpretive Summary: The Landsat series of satellites has particular utility for agricultural monitoring because it can map at spatial resolutions (30-100m) smaller than a typical farm field. Landsat 8 was launched in February of 2013, maintaining continuity in an archive moderate resolution global landsurface imaging that commenced with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on-board Landsat 8 enables routine global monitoring of crop water use (evapotranspiration) and crop stress. Evaporative cooling of the crop canopy through transpiration results in a thermal signal which is detectable from space. This paper describes the design of the TIRS instrument, and pre-launch assessment of sensor performance. An example comparing evapotranspiration estimates generated with the Landsat 7 and new Landsat 8 systems is provided, demonstrating improved water use monitoring capabilities facilitated by TIRS.

Technical Abstract: The Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8 is the latest thermal sensor in that series of missions. Unlike the previous single channel sensors, TIRS uses two channels to cover the 10-12 micron band. It is also a pushbroom imager; a departure from the previous whiskbroom approach. Nevertheless, the instrument requirements are defined such that data continuity is maintained. This paper describes the design of the TIRS instrument, the results of pre-launch calibration measurements and shows an example of initial on-orbit science performance compared to Landsat 7.