LANDSAT MID‐INFRARED DATA AND GIS IN REGIONAL SURFACE SOIL‐MOISTURE ASSESSMENT¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Landsat satellite Thematic Mapper (TM) data were used to assess regional soil moisture conditions. The mid‐infrared (MIR) data of TM band 7 were overlain onto four principal land‐use categories (Agricultural/Irrigated, Urban/Clearings, Forest/ Wetlands, Water) using a geographic information system (GIS). M data were used to assess four qualitative surface soil‐moisture conditions (water/very wet, wet, moist, and dry) within each land‐use category of a 208,354 ha southwestern Florida study area. The MIR response was inversely related to the qualitative surface soil‐moisture content. Integration of Landsat TM MIR data with land use through GIS appears to be a useful technique for high‐resolution regional soil moisture assessment, and further research to reline this technique is recommended.