Modification and validation of a new method to improve the accuracy of MODIS-derived dew point temperature over China's Mainland

MODIS atmospheric profile products(MOD07_L2 and MYD07_L2)have been widely used for near-surface dew point temperature(T_(d))estimation.However,their accuracy over large scale has seldom been evaluated.In this study,we validated these two products comprehensively against 2153 stations over China's Mainland.MOD07_L2 was suggested by our study because it achieved higher accuracy in either of two frequently-used methods.To be specific,the root-meansquare error(RMSE)achieved by MOD07_L2 and MYD07_L2 was 5.82 and 7.42℃,respectively.On this basis,a recent ground-based correction method was modified to further improve their accuracy.Our focus is to investigate whether this ground-based approach is applicable to large-scale remote sensing applications.The results show that this new method showed great potential for T_(d) estimation independently from ground observations.Through the introduction of MODIS land surface products,the RMSE it achieved for MOD07_L2 and MYD07_L2 was 5.23 and 5.59℃,respectively.Further analysis shows that it was particularly useful in capturing the annual average T_(d) patterns.The R2,RMSE,and bias of annual average daily mean T_(d) estimates were 0.95,1.84℃,and 0.53℃,and those achieved for annual average instantaneous T_(d) estimates were 0.94,2.09℃,and 0.75℃,respectively.