[Objective] The aim of this study is to investigate the surface brightness temperature variation of different land use types.[Method] Based on MODIS data in 2008 and IGBP land classification system,the surface brightness temperature in the Yangtze River Delta area was calculated,and its rules and reasons were also discussed in this study.[Result] Different land use types had its own special brightness temperature variation.During the day,the brightness temperature was as follows：grassland or urban and built-up landcropland,forest land and barrenwetland and water.During the night,the brightness temperature was as follows：water,wetland and barrengrassland or urban and built-up landforest land and cropland.Brightness temperature showed the trend of high in summer and low in winter or increasing in spring and decreasing in fall.The characteristics of surface thermal radiation could be reflected better by brightness temperature at night.Solar radiation,mixed pixel,heat capacity,water content were the main reasons for the difference of brightness temperature in different land types.[Conclusion] The brightness temperature variation of different land use types has significance for water content analysis in soil and dynamic monitoring of land use.
