Abstract
The objective of this research was to find an indirect method to estimate land surface temperature (LST) efficiently, using Landsat images. Agricultural fields including paddy fields have long been known to have multi-functions beneficial to the environment and ecology of the urban surrounding areas. Among these functions, the ambient temperature cooling (ATC) effect is widely acknowledged. However, quantitative and regional assessment of such effect has not been performed. Thermal remote sensing has been used over urban areas to assess the ATC effect, Thermal Island Effect(TIE), and as input for models of urban surface atmosphere exchange. Here, we review the use of thermal remote sensing in the study of paddy fields and urban climates, focusing primarily on the ATC effect. Landsat satellite images were used to determine the surface temperatures of different land cover types of a $44km^{2}$ study area in Cheongiu, Korea. The results show that the ATC is a function of paddy area percentage in Landsat pixels. Landsat pixels with higher paddy area percentage have much more cooling effect. The use of satellite data may contribute to a globally consistent method for analysis of ATC effect.
