CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - TIRS -
Full Name Thermal Infrared Sensor Status Operational
Instrument Agencies USGS, NASA Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) Geometry Push-broom scanning
Instrument Technology Narrow-band channel IR radiometer Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format COG, GeoTIFF
Measurements and Applications Measures longwave thermal infrared surface emittance, land cover state, and change. Used as multipurpose imagery for land applications.
Resolution Summary 100 m
[Best Resolution: 100m]
Swath Summary 185 km
[Max Swath: 185 km]
Accuracy Summary Absolute geodetic accuracy of 44 m; geometric accuracy of 32 m or better
Waveband Summary TIR 10.5 µm and 12 µm
TIR (~6.0 µm - ~15.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Albedo and reflectanceEarth surface albedo
Cloud type, amount and cloud top temperatureCloud imagery
Cloud cover
Cloud mask
Inland WatersSurface Water Extent
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Fire fractional cover
Active Fire Detection
Mineral Type
Radiation budgetLong-wave Earth surface emissivity
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice surface temperature
Iceberg fractional cover
Glacier cover
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Surface temperature (land)Permafrost
Land surface temperature
Fire temperature
Evapotranspiration
VegetationLand cover
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Albedo click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Cloud Properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Fire click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Glaciers click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Land cover click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Land Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Snow click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
Landsat 8 - Landsat 8 (2013 - 2028)