A Novel Surface Energy Balance Method for Thermal Inertia Studies of Terrestrial Analogs.

Surface thermal inertia derived from satellite imagery offers a valuable tool for remotely mapping the physical structure and water content of planetary regolith. Efforts to quantify thermal inertia using surface temperatures on Earth, however, have consistently yielded large uncertainties and suffered from a lack of reproducibility. Unlike dry or airless bodies, Earth's abundant water and dense atmosphere lead to dynamic thermophysical conditions that are a greater challenge to model than on a world like Mars. In this work, an approach was developed using field experiments to inform and fine‐tune a thermophysical model of terrestrial sediment and calculate an inherent thermal inertia value with higher precision and less initial knowledge of the sediment than has previously been achieved remotely on Earth. A thermal inertia derived for a basaltic tephra site in Northern Arizona was replicated within 1% between different field seasons, demonstrating reproducibility. Model‐derived values were validated in situ by two different thermophysical field probes to within 8% of the measured mean values. Analog studies such as this hold the promise of improved interpretations of surface materials on Mars, and an accurate thermal model for Earth is the key step to enabling translation between the two worlds. Key Points: This work introduces a new approach for relating remote temperature observations to regolith physical propertiesThe manuscript details the development, calibration, and testing of a soil‐agnostic thermophysical model for application to Earth and MarsSoil moisture and temperature have dynamic effects on thermal conductivity and latent heat that depend on regolith type [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]