Mapping Sandy Land Using the New Sand Differential Emissivity Index From Thermal Infrared Emissivity Data

On the basis of the spectral shape of thermal infrared (TIR) emissivity for sandy land, a remote sensing sand index called the sand differential emissivity index (SDEI) is proposed in this article to simply and conveniently detect sandy land over large areas. The SDEI is evaluated on ground, airborne, and spaceborne thermal emissivity data, and it shows good characterization of sandy land and perf...