Evaluating the radiance transformation for normalizing Landsat dataA technique is examined for improving the comparability of Landsat multisppectral scanner (MSS) data acquired on different dates. The technique involves conversion of digital brightness counts to relative radiance values measured in energy units (milliwatts per square centimeter-steradian). The statistical data of signature from 23 land cover (or biomass) classifications derived from all three Landsats were compared before and after the radiance normalization. Significant convergence occurred among the data sets for mean spectral values and the variances associated with each of seven major land cover types for MSS bands 4, 5, and 7. Overall, the variance attributed to the sensor component was reduced from 5.39 to 2.69 percent, with the largest decrease occurring in band 4 (14.4 percent to 3.7 percent).
Document ID
19840030302
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Middleton, E. M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lu, Y. C. (Computer Sciences Corp. Silver Spring, MD, United States)