authority: gcos
slug: land-surface-temperature
name: Land Surface Temperature
domain: land
subdomain: biosphere
authority_id: gcos:land-surface-temperature
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: surface_temperature
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: temperature
    entity: land-surface
canonical_units: K
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Radiometric (skin) temperature of the land surface from thermal-infrared
  satellites (MODIS, VIIRS, SLSTR, ECOSTRESS, LST mission). A primary
  diagnostic of urban heat, drought stress, and evapotranspiration.
theme: vegetation
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/land-surface-temperature