Surface, not air
The thermal signal represents land-surface temperature at the satellite overpass, not the temperature reported by a weather station.
LANDSAT · THERMAL REMOTE SENSING · BREVARD COUNTY
Brevard County land-surface temperature.February 2009 · February 2025
I placed Landsat 7 and Landsat 9 temperature maps on the same Celsius scale to compare two February observations.
Landsat 7Landsat 9Thermal raster analysisTemporal comparison
01 / TEMPERATURE COMPARISON
Two February scenes on one temperature scale
The common Celsius color scale supports visual comparison of warmer and cooler surface patterns across the county.
02 / READING THE MAP
How to read the comparison
The paired scenes show spatial surface-temperature patterns, but they remain two observations rather than a long-term record.
Seasonally aligned
Both scenes were acquired in February, reducing—but not eliminating—seasonal differences between the comparison dates.
Spatial context
Urban surfaces, vegetation, water, soil moisture, and coastal conditions can all influence the warm and cool patterns visible in each scene.
03 / ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
How I prepared the comparison
I matched the seasonal timing and map extent, used a common color scale, and kept sensor and environmental differences in view while interpreting the result.
- 01
Select comparable observations
Use Landsat 7 imagery from February 16, 2009 and Landsat 9 imagery from February 11, 2025 to keep the acquisitions close in the seasonal calendar.
- 02
Standardize the presentation
Clip both temperature rasters to the same Brevard County extent and display them with a common Celsius color scale.
- 03
Compare spatial patterns
Examine the distribution of warmer and cooler surfaces in relation to development, vegetation, inland water, and coastal geography.
- 04
Interpret with quality controls
Consider clouds, cloud shadows, surface moisture, atmospheric conditions, sensor differences, emissivity, and Landsat 7 scan-line gaps before attributing differences to landscape change.
04 / TEACHING APPLICATION
A lesson in sensor comparison and analytical restraint
Students could use these scenes to discuss land-surface temperature, seasonal matching, sensor differences, cloud and scan-line masking, and why two dates do not establish a climate trend.
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