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Application of digital terrain data to quantify and reduce the topographic effect on LANDSAT dataIntegration of LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data with 30 m U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) digital terrain data was undertaken to quantify and reduce the topographic effect on imagery of a forested mountain ridge test site in central Pennsylvania. High Sun angle imagery revealed variation of as much as 21 pixel values in data for slopes of different angles and aspects with uniform surface cover. Large topographic effects were apparent in MSS 4 and 5 was due to a combination of high absorption by the forest cover and the MSS quantization. Four methods for reducing the topographic effect were compared. Band ratioing of MSS 6/5 and MSS 7/5 did not eliminate the topographic effect because of the lack of variation in MSS 4 and 5 radiances. The three radiance models examined to reduce the topographic effect required integration of the digital terrain data. Two Lambertian models increased the variation in the LANDSAT radiances. The nonLambertian model considerably reduced (86 per cent) the topographic effect in the LANDSAT data. The study demonstrates that high quality digital terrain data, as provided by the USGS digital elevation model data, can be used to enhance the utility of multispectral satellite data.
Document ID
19810004902
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Justice, C. O.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Wharton, S. W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Holben, B. N.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1980
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-81988
E81-10055
Accession Number
81N13413
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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