Daily mean air temperature estimation from MODIS land surface temperature products based on M5 model tree

The use of satellite data to estimate air temperature ( T a ) near the Earth's surface has become an effective way for a large area with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, M5 model tree was used to estimate T a in Khuzestan province (in the southwest of Iran) using satellite remotely sensed land surface temperature ( T s ) data acquired by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ( MODIS )‐Terra sensor. The input variables for the M5 model tree were the daytime and nighttime MODIS T s , extraterrestrial solar radiation and Julian day. A total of 365 images of MOD11A1 T s product for the year 2007, covering the area of this study were collected from the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center ( LP DAAC ). The results of this study showed that mean daily T a can be estimated with acceptable levels of the statistical indicators from MODIS data and from the two geographic parameters using the M5 model. Root mean square error and R 2 for the comparison between observed and estimated T a for the tested data are 2.3 and 0.96 °C, respectively.