This dataset contains land surface temperatures (LSTs) and their uncertainty estimates from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA-20. Satellite land surface temperatures are skin temperatures, which means, for example, the temperature of the ground surface in bare soil areas, the temperature of the canopy over forests, and a mix of the soil and leaf temperature over sparse vegetation. The skin temperature is an important variable when considering surface fluxes of, for instance, heat and water.

Daytime and night-time temperatures are provided in separate files corresponding to the daytime and nighttime NOAA-20 equator crossing times which are 13:25 and 01:25 local solar time. Per pixel uncertainty estimates are given in two forms, first, an estimate of the total uncertainty for the pixel and second, a breakdown of the uncertainty into components by correlation length. Also provided in the files, on a per pixel basis, are the observation time, the satellite viewing and solar geometry angles, a quality flag, and land cover class.

The dataset coverage is global over the land surface. LSTs are provided on a global equal angle grid at a resolution of 0.01° longitude and 0.01° latitude. VIIRS achieves full Earth coverage twice per day. LSTs are not produced where clouds are present since under these circumstances the IR radiometer observes the cloud top which is usually much colder than the surface.

Dataset coverage starts on 5th January 2018 and continues to 31st December 2024. There are minor interruptions (1-10 days) during satellite/instrument maintenance periods or instrument anomalies.

The dataset was produced by the University of Leicester (UoL) and LSTs were retrieved using a two channel Generalised Split Window retrieval algorithm and data were processed in the UoL processing chain.

The European Space Agency (ESA) funded the research and development of software to generate these data (ESA grant reference 4000123553/18/I-NB) in addition to funding the production of the data for 2012 to 2023. The data for 2024 and development of software for the production of the ICDR is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC grant reference number NE/X019071/1 Earth Observation Climate Information Service).