Characterizing LEDAPS surface reflectance products by comparisons with AERONET, field spectrometer, and MODIS data

Authors

T.K. Maiersperger, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
P.L. Scaramuzza, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
L. Leigh, South Dakota State University
S. Shrestha, South Dakota State University
K.P. Gallo, Center for Satellite Applications and Research, 5830 University Research Court, College Park
C.B. Jenkerson, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) CenterFollow
J.L. Dwyer, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Remote Sensing of Environment 136 (2013) 1–13

doi 10.1016/j.rse.2013.04.007

Comments

US government work

Abstract

This study provides a baseline quality check on provisional Landsat Surface Reflectance (SR) products as generated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center using Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LEDAPS) software. Characterization of the Landsat SR products leveraged comparisons between aerosol optical thickness derived from LEDAPS and measured by Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), as well as reflectance correlations with field spectrometer and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. Results consistently indicated similarity between LEDAPS and alternative data products in longer wavelengths over vegetated areas with no adjacent water, while less reliable performance was observed in shorter wavelengths and sparsely vegetated areas. This study demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of the atmospheric correction methodology used in LEDAPS, confirming its successful implementation to generate Landsat SR products.