SOIL MOISTURE SENSING WITH AIRCRAFT OBSERVATIONS OF THE DIURNAL RANGE OF SURFACE TEMPERATURE1

Abstract
Aircraft Observations of the surface temperature were made by measurements of the thermal emission in the 8‐14 μm band over agricultural fields around Phoenix, Arizona. The diuranal range of these surface temperature measurnments were well correlated with the ground measurment of soil moisture in the 0‐2 cm layer. The surface temperature indicating no moisture stress. These results indicate that for clear atmospheric conditions remoteley sensed sufrace temperatures can be a reliable indicator of soil moisture conditions and crop status.