Research

We apply thermal infrared remote sensing across spheres and scales, using different instruments and methods, and across multiple study sites.

The TIRLab activities are currently centred around two major projects:

• The Trishna T-SEC project funded through the ESA Prodex scheme and contributing to the Indian-French high spatio-temporal TRISHNA mission (Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment).
• The CryoTIR project funded through an Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione project grant focusing on unlocking the potential of thermal infrared remote sensing for cryospheric energy budget modelling.

• Adams, J. S., Damm, A., Werfeli, M., Gröbner, J., and Naegeli, K. (2025). Across-scale thermal infrared anisotropy in forests: Insights from a multi-angular laboratory-based approach. Remote Sens. Environ. 326, 114766.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.114766

• Rietze, N., Heim, R. J., Troeva, E., Schaepman‐Strub, G., & Assmann, J. J. (2025). Pre‐fire vegetation conditions and topography shape burn mosaics of Siberian tundra fire scars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130, e2024JG008608. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JG008608

• Gabriele Bramati, William Johnson, Bjorn Eng, et al. A Correction Methodology for Cross-Track Instrument Biases in Airborne Hyperspectral Thermal Infrared Data over the Cryosphere. TechRxiv. October 06, 2025. 10.36227/techrxiv.175979172.27346105/v1

• Fischer, S., Naegeli, K., Cardone, D., Filippini, C., Merla, A., Hanusch, K-U. and Ehlert, U. (2024): Emerging effects of temperature on human cognition, affect and behaviour, Biological Psychology, Vol. 189, 108791,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108791

• Bramati, G., Hardmeier, F.,  Adams, J.S., Vieli, A., and Naegeli, K. (2024): Tapping the potential of multi-temporal thermal infrared UAV over a debris-covered glacier, EGU24-9700, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9700 
• Naegeli, K., Adams, J.S., Bramati, G., Gärtner-Roer, I. and Rietze, N. (2024): Close-range thermal remote sensing over a cryospheric landform in complex topography - challenges and lessons learnt, EGU24-9873, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9873

• Rietze, N., Assmann, J. J., Plekhanova, E., Naegeli, K., Damm, A., Maximov, T. C., Karsanaev, S. v, Hensgens, G., and Schaepman-Strub, G. (2024): Summer drought weakens land surface cooling of tundra vegetation. Environmental Research Letters, 19(4), 044043. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/AD345E 

• Rossini M., Garzonio R., Panigada C., Tagliabue G., Bramati G., Vezzoli G., Cogliati S., Colombo R., Di Mauro B. (2023): Mapping Surface Features of an Alpine Glacier through Multispectral and Thermal Drone Surveys. Remote Sensing, 15(13):3429. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15133429

• Rahaghi, A. I., Lemmin, U., Sage, D. and Barry, D. A. (2019): Achieving high-resolution thermal imagery in low-contrast lake surface waters by aerial remote sensing and image registration. Remote Sensing of Environment, 221, 773-783. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2018.12.018 

• Rahaghi, A. I., Lemmin, U. and Barry D. A. (2019): Surface water temperature heterogeneity at sub-pixel satellite scales and its effect on the surface cooling estimates of a large lake: Airborne remote sensing results from Lake Geneva. Journal of Geophysical Researches: Oceans, 124, 635-651. doi: 10.1029/2018JC014451 

Full list of publications from all TIRLab members here