TRISHNA: how ISRO and CNES plan to map land-surface heat and water stress
The joint TRISHNA mission is designed to map surface temperature and related environmental variables to help study irrigation, drought and urban heat.
TRISHNA stands for Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment. ISRO describes it as a joint mission with France’s CNES to observe land-surface temperature, water use and related environmental variables; the mission page is a design description, not evidence of new images released today.
What thermal infrared adds
Thermal infrared instruments observe emitted radiation that can be used to estimate surface temperature. Combined with other spectral measurements, these data can help researchers study evapotranspiration, water stress, urban heat islands and changes in land and vegetation.
Why it matters
ISRO’s mission page describes a thermal-infrared payload supplied by CNES and a visible/near-infrared/short-wave-infrared payload developed by ISRO. Repeated observations could support water management and climate research, but a satellite measurement alone does not prescribe an irrigation decision; it must be interpreted alongside weather, land cover and ground observations.
Editorial note
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Frequently asked questions
What does TRISHNA study?
It is designed for thermal Earth observation, including surface temperature, evapotranspiration and water stress.
Does the mission page prove operational images were released today?
No. It describes the mission design and objectives.