Radiometric correction for atmospheric and topographic effects on Landsat MSS images

Abstract

Raw radiance data measured by a Landsat satellite includes undesirable atmospheric and topographic effects. The correction to allow for these effects is important in order to increase the accuracy of classification. In this paper we show how these effects on the Landsat MSS data are estimated, allowing for the transfer theory of radiation in the atmosphere-ground system. First, we present the theoretical basis of the atmospheric effect correction system (AECS) which corrects for atmospheric effects on the Landsat MSS data over a flat terrain. Then we propose a simple radiometric correction method which can remove both the atmospheric and topographic effects from the Landsat MSS data over a rugged terrain. We have applied it to a mountainous test area with known digital terrain data and obtained satisfactory results. In our analyses, the values of relevant atmospheric parameters such as the optical thickness, the single scattering albedo and the turbidily factor of the atmosphere were adopted from either an Elterman's model atmosphere or a model atmosphere given by Lowtran 5 code in the evaluation of scattering and transmission functions. Lambert's law was assumed as a bidirectional reflection at the ground surface.