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Radiometric analysis of the longwave infrared channel of the Thematic Mapper on LANDSAT 4 and 5The first objective was to evaluate the postlaunch radiometric calibration of the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) band 6 data. The second objective was to determine to what extent surface temperatures could be computed from the TM and 6 data using atmospheric propagation models. To accomplish this, ground truth data were compared to a single TM-4 band 6 data set. This comparison indicated satisfactory agreement over a narrow temperature range. The atmospheric propagation model (modified LOWTRAN 5A) was used to predict surface temperature values based on the radiance at the spacecraft. The aircraft data were calibrated using a multi-altitude profile calibration technique which had been extensively tested in previous studies. This aircraft calibration permitted measurement of surface temperatures based on the radiance reaching the aircraft. When these temperature values are evaluated, an error in the satellite's ability to predict surface temperatures can be estimated. This study indicated that by carefully accounting for various sensor calibration and atmospheric propagation effects, and expected error (1 standard deviation) in surface temperature would be 0.9 K. This assumes no error in surface emissivity and no sampling error due to target location. These results indicate that the satellite calibration is within nominal limits to within this study's ability to measure error.
Document ID
19870008788
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Schott, John R.
(Rochester Inst. of Tech. NY, United States)
Volchok, William J.
(Rochester Inst. of Tech. NY, United States)
Biegel, Joseph D.
(Rochester Inst. of Tech. NY, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:180180
RIT/DIRS-86/87-51-112
NASA-CR-180180
Accession Number
87N18221
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-27323
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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