Timeline - Land Surface Temperature (Mean) Level 3 - Europe, Monthly

This dataset provides monthly maximum Land Surface Temperature (LST) values over Europe, derived from 1-km AVHRR observations. The data is generated by DLR and provided in the framework of the TIMELINE project.

LST values are retrieved using physically-based split- and mono-window algorithms and corrected for atmospheric influences and surface emissivity. Only cloud-free observations with sensor view angles below 50 degrees are used. Due to reliance on infrared observations, data may be limited under persistent cloud cover. To ensure temporal consistency across sensors and overpass times, an orbit drift correction method was applied. This method harmonizes LST values to a fixed reference time of 13:00 local solar time, approximating the daily maximum temperature.

The dataset is gridded in a 1-km LAEA ETRS89 projection. The product is provided in four tiles, covering the extent of the European Environmental Agency (EEA) reference grid, which includes the area from 900 000 m East and 900 000m North to 7 400 000m East and 5 500 000m North.

The TIMELINE (TIMe Series Processing of Medium Resolution Earth Observation Data assessing Long-Term Dynamics In our Natural Environment) project, led by the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), focuses on generating a consistent, multi-decadal time series derived from NOAA and Metop AVHRR data. Spanning more than 40 years from the early 1980s to the present this dataset covers Europe and North Africa.

TIMELINE establishes an operational environment for the systematic reprocessing of AVHRR raw data into Level 1b, Level 2, and Level 3 geoinformation products at 1.1 km spatial resolution. These products maintain uniform standards in format, projection, and spatial coverage. The dataset includes a comprehensive suite of land and atmospheric parameters such as atmospherically corrected surface reflectance, NDVI, snow cover, fire hotspots, burnt area, land and sea surface temperatures, and various cloud physical properties (e.g., cloud top temperature).

By combining traditional and innovative remote sensing products with robust processing algorithms and state-of-the-art validation techniques, TIMELINE provides a unique, high-quality dataset for global change research.

Citation proposal
German Aerospace Center (DLR). Timeline - Land Surface Temperature (Mean) Level 3 - Europe, Monthly. https://gdk.gdi-de.org/geonetwork/srv/api/records/c33f3608-0f19-47e2-8c78-5a6408e0d0d7

Simple

Date ( Creation ): 2025-06-26T12:00:00

Edition

Identifier: https://geoservice.dlr.de/catalogue/srv/metadata/c33f3608-0f19-47e2-8c78-5a6408e0d0d7

Presentation form: Digital map

Other citation details: DOI: 10.15489/rnnvbugzmh44

Status: ongoing

Author

German Aerospace Center (DLR) -

Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 ( Theme )

Meteorological geographical features

Spatial scope ( Place )

European

Keywords

DLR
EOC
DFD
AVHRR
TIMELINE
NOAA
METOP
Land Surface Temperature
Monthly
opendata

Use limitation: Nutzungseinschränkungen: Das DLR ist nicht haftbar für Schäden, die sich aus der Nutzung ergeben. / Use Limitations: DLR not liable for damage resulting from use.

Access constraints: Other restrictions

Use constraints: Other restrictions

Other constraints: Nutzungsbedingungen: Lizenz, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/ / Terms of use: License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/

Other constraints

{"id": "cc-by-de/3.0",

"name": "Creative Commons Namensnennung 3.0 Deutschland (CC BY 3.0 DE)",

"url": "http://dcat-ap.de/def/licenses/cc-by-de/3.0",

"quelle": "Copyright DLR (year of production)"}

Spatial representation type: Grid

Denominator: 2000000

Metadata language: English

Character set: UTF8

Topic category

Imagery base maps earth cover

Number of dimensions: 2

Dimension name: Column

Dimension size: 4500

Resolution: 1000 m

Dimension name: Row

Dimension size: 6500

Resolution: 1000 m

Cell geometry: Area

Transformation parameter availability: false

Distribution format

GeoTIFF ()

OnLine resource: Scientific publication
Scientific publication

OnLine resource: Scientific publication
Scientific publication

OnLine resource: Scientific publication
Scientific publication

OnLine resource: Scientific publication
Scientific publication

OnLine resource: Project information
Project information

OnLine resource: EOC Download Service
EOC Download Service

OnLine resource: EOC STAC Collection
EOC STAC Collection

OnLine resource: https://geoservice.dlr.de/eoc/land/wms?SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetCapabilities

OnLine resource: EOC Geoservice Dataset
EOC Geoservice Dataset

OnLine resource: TIMELINE_AVHRR_L3_P1M_LSTD_MEAN
TIMELINE AVHRR L3 Monthly LSTD - Mean

OnLine resource: TIMELINE_AVHRR_L3_P1M_LSTD_STD
TIMELINE AVHRR L3 Monthly LSTD - Standard Deviation

OnLine resource: TIMELINE_AVHRR_L3_P1M_LSTD_COUNT
TIMELINE AVHRR L3 Monthly LSTD - Valid Pixel Count

OnLine resource: TIMELINE_AVHRR_L3_P1M_LSTD_MIN
TIMELINE AVHRR L3 Monthly LSTD - Min

OnLine resource: TIMELINE_AVHRR_L3_P1M_LSTD_MAX
TIMELINE AVHRR L3 Monthly LSTD - Max

Hierarchy level: Series

Domain consistency

Measure identification: INSPIRE / Conformity_001

Conformance result

Date ( Publication ): 2010-12-08

Explanation: See the referenced specification.

Pass: true

Statement: Systematic reprocessing of AVHRR raw data into Level 1b, Level 2, and Level 3 geoinformation products at 1.1 km spatial resolution. All products have been harmonized in order to maintain uniform standards in qualiy, format, projection, and spatial coverage.

Description: This timeseries of more than 40 years of AVHRR raw data is processed in the operational environment build up by the TIMELINE project at DLR/EOC. For this monthly level-3-product, all available level-2 products are binned into a common 1x1 km2 common grid.