Comparison between the ASTER and ECOSTRESS global emissivity datasets

•ECOSTRESS Global emissivity dataset was compiled using cloud-free pixels.•ECOSTRESS and ASTER GEDs were compared.•Biases of ∼ 1 % in bands 2 and 4, 1.7 % in band 5 for ECOSTRESS over the globe.•Average RMSEs of ∼ 3 % and ∼ 1.5 % at the sand dune and vegetated sites for ECOSTRESS.•Average RMSE of 1.31% between ASTER and ECOSTRESS GEDs among 9 sites. High spatial resolution global land surface emissivity datasets are valuable for various applications. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Emissivity Dataset (GED) is the only accessible global emissivity data with a high spatial resolution (∼100 m). Since the launch of the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) in June 2018, another high spatial resolution GED can be generated. A comprehensive comparison is needed to investigate the consistency between the ASTER and ECOSTRESS GEDs before subsequent applications and the release of the ECOSTRESS GED. We conducted a first-ever comparison between the ASTER and ECOSTRESS GEDs in two ways: 1) global spatial comparison and 2) validation using emissivity measurements at 9 sand dune and 2 vegetated sites. The results reveal that the ECOSTRESS emissivities in bands 2 and 4 are in good agreement with ASTER GED, with mean absolute biases (MAB) of ∼ 1 % averaged over the globe. The emissivity difference is the largest for snow and ice in these two bands. For band 5, the discrepancy is relatively larger with a MAB of 1.7 %. The largest emissivity difference is found over evergreen broadleaf forests in humid regions. Comparison with measurements reveals an average root-mean-square error (RMSE) of ECOSTRESS emissivity of ∼ 3 % among all the nine sand sites for all the 3 bands. At the two vegetated sites, the average RMSE is ∼ 1.5 %. The absolute biases are below 3 % in all the bands. The average RMSE between ASTER and ECOSTRESS GEDs among all sand dune sites is 1.29 %. The evaluation results demonstrate a good agreement between these two emissivity retrievals overall and high accuracy of the ECOSTRESS GED.