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Directional variations in thermal emission from geologic surfaces
Author(s) -
Jakosky Bruce M.,
Finiol Gary W.,
Henderson Bradley G.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl017i007p00985
Subject(s) - emissivity , impact crater , geology , volcano , thermal emission , lava , radiometer , thermal , surface roughness , surface finish , remote sensing , geophysics , volcanology , atmospheric sciences , materials science , optics , meteorology , astrobiology , seismology , physics , composite material
We investigated the directional emission properties of geologic surfaces using a ground‐based, hand‐held infrared radiometer and thermistor probe. Field sites involved surfaces ranging from smooth playa and sand surfaces to a very rough aa lava flow in the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, NV, as part of the Geological Remote Sensing Field Experiment. Large directional variations in thermal emission were found; they result from the presence of surface roughness–at large scales producing spatial variations in kinetic temperature and at small scales producing emissivity variations. These variations are important in remotely determining surface structure and understanding surface energy balance and emission spectra.