To estimate the optical turbulence in the land surface layer usually needs the meteorological observations at two different layers, but the normal surface meteorological observations are carried out in only one layer. In order to estimate the optical turbulence in the land surface by using the meteorological observations only in one layer, a model was given based on the surface energy balance by using the Shapiro empirical scheme of the surface net solar radiation fluxes which uses the usual normal meteorological observations as input and the U. S. Army Unified Soil Classification Scheme. The soil temperature was first estimated based on the numerical solution of the thermal conduction equation, the surface temperature was then estimated by using the simulated first layer soil temperature based on the surface energy balance, and the surface humidity was estimated by using the forcing-restoration method. At last, the estimated surface temperature and humidity were taken as the temperature and humidity at the roughness height, and the optical turbulence was estimated based on the meteorological observations at the observation layer and the estimated temperature and humidity at the roughness height. It is found that the optical turbulence estimated by the model is generally consistent with those estimated by using the meteorology observations conducted at two different layers in the land surface.