Radiative surface temperature fields close data gaps in meteorological network providing systematic exhaustive terrain coverage. They indicate temperature patterns and the possibility of detecting thermal anomalies of small size
The data is not available in real time to provide help in frost protection actions. Data available from satellite thermal imagery have enough resolution but suffers the effects of atmospheric absorption on the radiation to be measured.
In the present paper, a work methodology is proposed to analyze NOAA AVHRR images as an additional information in an operative way in frost protection measures.
NOAA images and series of air temperature obtained by means of standard instruments are studied to obtain a relationship between them in the valley. Describing temperature behavior along the valley is an important tool in planning and development of frost protection actions. Satellite imagery gives a regional view of surface temperature evolution during night.
The present methodology is applied to five NOAA 12 high-resolution images from two nights in October of 1997. During these nights, the regional weather situation was clear skies and calm with frost occurrence probabilities.
The screen data were plotted against NOAA AVHRR derived temperatures for some well-recognized sites in the region. A linear correlation between these two measurements was calculated. Regression coefficient was 0.65.
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