Liangyun Liu, Shanshan Du, Xinjie Liu, Chu Zou, Mengjia Qi, Dianrun Zhao, Yulu Du, Wenyu Li, Mengchen Li, Shaoyang Chen
Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF), a proxy for vegetation photosynthetic activity, has gained widespread applications. This review synthesizes the principles, progress, and key frontiers in satellite SIF remote sensing. Firstly, we introduced the SIF retrieval principles and algorithms at both ground and spaceborne platforms. The SIF retrieval methods can be divided into two categories: physically-based inversion and data-driven algorithms. The accurate separation of SIF from reflected radiance in upwelling radiation is the key challenge. The current ground-based retrievals are still limited by spectrometer resolution and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), developing instrument-agnostic, high-robustness algorithms remains a research priority. Data-driven approaches dominate satellite SIF retrievals. However, huge uncertainties persist in red-band SIF retrieval, demanding transformative algorithmic breakthroughs. Second, we analyze global SIF satellite developments over 30 years, highlighting China’s rapid progress (e.g., successful experiments with TanSat and Goumang). Nevertheless, gaps persist in satellite longevity, data sharing, and scientific utilization compared to international counterparts. The next-generation TanSat-2 (to be launched in 2026) is expected to revolutionize SIF remote sensing, offering 2-km resolution, global daily coverage, and dual-band (red/far-red) SIF data—resolving critical limitations of low resolution, SNR, and revisit frequency. Finally, we investigated the progresses of spatiotemporal fusion of SIF satellite data. Machine Learning (ML)-based simulation methods have achieved high-precision simulation of SIF data and have been widely used. However, the ML-based SIF datasets represent the modeled signals driven by reflectance and meteorology, not observations. Spatial downscaling of satellite SIF products preserves observational fidelity despite lower spatiotemporal continuity than ML counterparts. Emerging multi-sensor, long-term (1995—2024), 0.05°-resolution downscaled products hold potential to accelerate SIF science applications. Therefore, despite the inherent challenge of high-precision retrieval of weak SIF signal, advances in payload technology and quantitative remote sensing are rapidly transforming SIF monitoring capabilities. China’s SIF remote sensing program (TanSat-2) is positioned to play an increasingly pivotal role in guiding global SIF science and applications.