Natural > Land Temp Day
Raster > Natural > Land Temp Day
Data Source: NASA Earth Observations > Land Surface Temperature [Day] (1 month - Terra/MODIS)
Website: https://neo.gsfc.nasa.gov/view.php?datasetId=MOD_LSTD_M
The maps shown here were made using data collected during the daytime by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), an instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. Please note that the type of "surface" MODIS measures varies as a function of location. In some places, the measurement represents the skin temperature of the bare land surface. In other places, the temperature represents the skin temperature of whatever is on the land-including snow and ice, or the leafy canopy of forests and crop fields, or human-made structures such as pavement and building rooftops. (So these maps should not be confused with the surface air temperature values that given in typical weather reports.)
Description
Scientists monitor land surface temperature because the warmth rising off Earth's landscapes influences our world's weather and climate patterns. Likewise, land surface temperature is also influenced by changes in weather and climate patterns. So scientists routinely produce such maps to better understand the relationships between land surface temperature and changing weather and climate patterns. In particular, scientists want to monitor how the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases impacts land surface temperature. Scientists are also interested to track where and how glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost regions are changing as land surface temperatures change.
Commercial farmers may also use land surface temperature maps like these to evaluate water requirements for their crops during the summer, when they are prone to heat stress. Conversely, in winter such maps can help citrus farmers to determine where and when orange groves were exposed to damaging frost.
What do the colors mean?
The colors on these maps represent temperature patterns of the top millimeter (or "skin") of the land surface - including bare land, snow or ice cover, urban areas, and cropland or forest canopy - as observed by MODIS in clear-sky conditions for the time period indicated. Yellow shows the warmest temperatures (up to 45°C) and light blue shows the coldest temperatures (down to -25°C). Black means "no data."
This Map Layer is a Raster Layer, so its Style cannot be changed. There are 12 overlays available: January-December, selectable through the 'Additional Layer Features' control on the 'Layers Menu'.