Pseudo-invariant Calibration Sites Research Articles

Evaluation of Temporal Stability in Radiometric Calibration Network Sites Using Multi-Source Satellite Data and Continuous In Situ Measurements

The radiometric calibration network (RadCalNet) comprises four pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS): Gobabeb, Baotou, Railroad Valley Playa, and La Crau. Due to its site stability characteristics, it is widely used for sensor performance monitoring and radiometric calibration, which require high spatiotemporal stability. However, some studies have found that PICS are not invariable. Previous studies used top-of-atmosphere (TOA) data without verifying site data, which could affect the accuracy of their results. In this study, we analyzed the short- and long-term radiometric trends of RadCalNet sites using bottom-of-atmosphere (BOA) data, and verified the trends revealed by the TOA data from Landsat 7, 8, and Sentinel-2. Besides the commonly used methods (e.g., nonparametric Mann–Kendall and sequential Mann–Kendall tests), a more robust Sen’s slope method was used to estimate the magnitude of the change. We found that (1) the trends based on TOA reflectance contrasted with those based on BOA reflectance in certain cases, e.g., the reflectance trends in the red band of BOA data for La Crau in summer and autumn and Baotou were not significant, while the TOA data showed a significant downward trend; (2) the temporal trends showed statistically significant and abrupt changes in all PICS, e.g., the SWIR2 band of La Crau in winter and spring changed by 1.803% per year, and the SWIR1 band of Railroad Valley Playa changed by >0.282% per year, indicating that the real changes in sensor performance are hard to detect using these sites; (3) spatial homogeneity was verified using the coefficient of variation (CV) and Getis statistic (Gi*) for each PICS (CV < 3% and Gi* > 0). Overall, the RadCalNet remains a highly reliable tool for vicarious calibration; however, the temporal stability should be noted for radiometric performance monitoring of sensors.

Inter-Comparison of Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 during On-Orbit Initialization and Verification (OIV) Using Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (EPICS): Advanced Methods

Three advanced methodologies were performed during Landsat-9 on orbit and initialization and verification (OIV): Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites Absolute Calibration Model Double Ratio (ExPAC Double Ratio) and Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (EPICS)-based cross-calibration utilizing stable regions in Northern African desert sites (EPICS-NA) and a global scale (EPICS-Global). The development of these three techniques was described using uncertainties analysis. The ExPAC Double Ratio was derived based on the ratio between ExPAC model prediction and satellite measurements for Landsat-8 and Landsat-9. The ExPAC Double Ratio can be performed to determine differences between sensors ranging from visible, red edge, near-infrared, to short-wave infrared wavelengths. The ExPAC Double Ratio and EPICS-based inter-comparison ratio uncertainties were determined using the Monte Carlo Simulation. It was found that the uncertainty levels of 1–2% can be achieved. The EPICS-based cross-calibration results were derived using two targets: EPICS-NA and EPICS-Global, with uncertainties of 1–2.2% for all spectral bands. The inter-comparison results between Landsat-9 and Landsat-8 during the OIV period using the three advanced methods were well within 0.5% for all spectral bands except for the green band, which showed sub 1% agreement.

Validation of EMI-2 Radiometric Performance with TROPOMI over Dome C Site in Antarctica

(1) The Environmental Trace Gases Monitoring Instrument-2(EMI-2) is a high-quality spaceborne imaging spectrometer that launched in September 2021. To evaluate its radiometric calibration performance in-flight, the UV2 and VIS1 bands of EMI-2 were cross-calibrated by the corresponding bands (band3 and band4) of TROPOMI over the pseudo-invariant calibration site Dome C. (2) After angle limitation and cloud filtering of the Earth radiance data measured by EMI-2 and TROPOMI over Dome C, the top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance time series were calculated. The spectral adjustment factors (SAF) were derived from the solar spectrum measured by the sensor to minimize the uncertainties caused by the different spectral response functions (SRF) of sensors. In addition, a correction method based on the radiative transfer model (RTM) SCIATRAN was used to suppress unaccounted angular dependence of atmospheric scattering. The radiation performance of EMI-2 is evaluated using the TOA reflectance ratio of EMI-2 and TROPOMI, combining the SAF correction and RTM-based correction methods. (3) It was shown that the time series trending of the TOA reflectance ratio between EMI-2 measurements and TROPOMI demonstrate flat characteristics and strong correlation. The mean reflectance ratios range from 0.998 to 1.09. The standard deviation of the reflection ratio is less than 3%. For 328 nm, 335 nm, 340 nm, 460 nm, and 490 nm, the mean values are close to one, and the relative radiometric bias estimated through EMI-2 and TROPOMI intercalibration is less than 3%, and for other wavelengths, the biases are less than 6%, except for 416 nm, which behaves higher than 7%. The cross-calibration results show that the radiometric calibration of EMI-2 is within the relative accuracy requirement.

Selection and evaluation of pseudo-invariant calibration sites in the Badain Jaran and Tengger Desert of China based on Sentinel satellite data

Selection and evaluation of pseudo-invariant calibration sites in the Badain Jaran and Tengger Desert of China based on Sentinel satellite data

Radiative Transfer Model Comparison with Satellite Observations over CEOS Calibration Site Libya-4

Radiative transfer models of the Earth’s atmosphere play a critical role in supporting Earth Observation applications such as vicarious calibration. In the solar reflective spectral domain, these models usually account for the scattering and absorption processes in the atmosphere and the underlying surface as well as the radiative coupling between these two media. A range of models is available to the scientific community with built-in capabilities making them easy to operate by a large number of users. These models are usually benchmarked in idealised but often unrealistic conditions such as monochromatic radiation reflected by a Lambertian surface. Four different 1D radiative transfer models are compared in actual usage conditions corresponding to the simulation of satellite observations. Observations acquired by six different space-borne radiometers over the pseudo-invariant calibration site Libya-4 are used to define these conditions. The differences between the models typically vary between 0.5 and 3.5% depending on the spectral region and the shape of the sensor spectral response.

Determining pseudo-invariant calibration sites for comparing inter-mission ocean color data

Comparing inter-mission space instrument performance is crucial to accurate satellite measurements which guarantees the quality of ocean color products. However, comparing inter-mission instrument performance is limited by strong dispersion, which clearly originates from the spatial and temporal variability inside the oceanic sampling sites. We designed a novel comprehensive score metric (CSM) to quantitatively identify the candidate pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS) for inter-mission comparisons. We calculated the CSM from a year of ocean color and meteorological products from 2018 using a pixel-by-pixel method with a simple average of a temporal meteorological metric, a spatial aerosol metric, a temporal optical metric, a spatial optical metric, a data quality metric, a spectral shape metric, and a directional homogeneity metric. When we filtered the data with the threshold CSM > 0.6, we found that atmospheric and oceanic conditions from two smooth belts in the low latitude open ocean were more clear, stable, and homogeneous than other regions, and we suggested these smooth belts as candidate PICS. With image data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) and Medium Resolution Spectral Imager II (MERSI II), we found that our candidate PICS were more effective than regions with low CSM in providing stable synchronous data for inter-mission comparisons. The MERSI II instrument, however, experienced significant degradation in radiance measurements from January to April in 2021, while the VIIRS instrument performed well. These results suggested that the CSM values were “experimental” but, under restrictive conditions, were sufficient for an inter-mission comparison and calibration application.

Evaluation and optimal selection of Dunhuang radiometric calibration site based on OLI/Landsat 8 and MSI/Sentinel 2 data

ABSTRACT The Dunhuang radiometric calibration site is an important component of the China Radiometric Calibration Sites (CRCS), which has served for in-flight radiometric calibration of Chinese satellites sensors since the 1990s, whereby the homogeneity has been verified since its construction. However, due to the increasing demand for radiometric calibration of the in-flight satellite sensors, and the impacts of a changing natural environment and the destruction of human activities of the site, it is essential to reassess the homogeneity of Dunhuang site and redefine the suitable region for calibration. Accordingly, the homogeneity of the Dunhuang site is reevaluated based on the satellite images of OLI/Landsat 8 (with resolutions of 30 m) and MSI/Sentinel 2 (with resolutions of 10 m) observed from 2015 to 2021. An ROI of 50 × 75 km is selected covering three historical definitions of the Dunhuang site with an area of 25 × 25 km, 20 × 20 km, and 10 × 10 km, respectively. Firstly, the spatial-temporal coefficients of variation () of the ROI is calculated. The homogeneity of the three existing sites is analyzed, and the results show that the 20 km site (40.06° N−40.25° N, 94.25° E−94.42° E) has the best homogeneity among the existing sites in Dunhuang. Then, by using a hierarchical region statistical method, three optimal locations and scopes of the Dunhuang site (10 × 10 km: 40.044° N−40.144° N, 94.284° E−94.384° E; 20 × 20 km: 40.002° N−40. 202° N, 94.216° E−94.416° E; 25 × 25 km: 40.021° N−40.247° N, 94.071° E−94.364° E) are defined. The average of the three OGT sites decrease from about 0.94%～2% to 0.7%～1.54% relative to the existing sites, and the standard deviation of decrease from about 0.45%～2% to 0.24%～1%. The Getis statistics also indicate that they are more homogeneous than the existing definitions of the site. Additionally, the optimal Dunhuang sites are compared with the north Africa Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS). The homogeneity of optimal Dunhuang sites is proved to be better than most sites hence that could be the complement for each other. These three optimal Dunhuang sites are new candidate sites served for the satellite in-flight radiometric calibration.

Radiometric Calibration Scheme for COCTS/HY-1C Based on Image Simulation From the Standard Remote-Sensing Reflectance

The data quality of the satellite-retrieved water-leaving reflectance (Rrs) depends on the accuracy of radiometric calibration and the performance of atmospheric correction. A radiometric calibration scheme (RCS) has been developed to ensure the accuracy of Rrs through the gain adjustment factors (GAFs) to adjust the satellite calibrated data. The GAF is obtained from the ratio of the simulated reflectance at the top of atmosphere to the calibrated values. The simulated reflectance is computed by a satellite image simulation model (SISM) based on a dataset of climatological global Rrs images according to the same geometric angles of the image pixels. The dataset, taken as a kind of the pseudo-invariant calibration sites for in situ measurements, is generated from the average of standard satellite-retrieved Rrs during more than two decades (1997-2019). The SISM inputs the aerosol properties retrieved from the satellite level 1B data (L1B) and uses the same algorithms of the data-processing system. The results show that the accuracy of the calibration of the website downloaded Chinese Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner on the Haiyang-1C satellite (COCTS/HY-1C) is beyond the requirement of the operational data-processing system (higher than 10%). The daily GAFs can be used to recalibrate the L1B data and monitor the daily sensor degradations. The influences of GAFs are assessed on different meteorological conditions, indicating that the values decrease with the increase of the aerosol optical depths (AODs) but the average of the GAF image is little affected by the meteorological conditions. The uncertainty of GAFs was tested by the different inputs of Rrs values and the results show that they are actually little affected by errors of the Rrs inputs. Therefore, the RCS, taking the advantage of vicarious calibration, offers a tool to recalibrate the COCTS/HY-1C L1B data for the data reprocessing system.

Classification and Evaluation of Extended PICS (EPICS) on a Global Scale for Calibration and Stability Monitoring of Optical Satellite Sensors

Historically stable areas across North Africa, known as pseudo invariant calibration sites (PICS), have been used as targets for the calibration and monitoring of optical satellite sensors. However, two major drawbacks exist for these sites: first is the dependency on a single location to be always invariant, and second is the limited amount of observation achieved using these sites. As a result, longer time periods are necessary to construct a dense dataset to assess the radiometric performance of on-orbit optical sensors and confirm that the change detected is sensor-specific rather than site-specific. This work presents a global land cover classification to obtain an extended pseudo invariant calibration site (EPICS) on a global scale using Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data. This technique provides multiple calibration sites across the globe, allowing for the building of richer datasets in a shorter time frame compared to the traditional approach (PICS), with the advantage of assessing the calibration and stability of the sensors faster, detecting possible changes sooner and correcting them accordingly. This work identified 23 World Reference System two (WRS-2) path/row locations around the globe as part of the global EPICS. These EPICS have the advantage of achieving multiple observations per day, with similar spectral characteristics compared to traditional PICS, while still producing a temporal coefficient of variation (ratio of temporal standard deviation and temporal mean) less than 4% for all bands, with some as low as 2.7%.

Detection of Change Points in Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites Time Series Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Imagery

The remote sensing community has extensively used Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) to monitor the long-term in-flight radiometric calibration of Earth-observing satellites. The use of the PICS has an underlying assumption that these sites are invariant over time. However, the site’s temporal stability has not been assured in the past. This work evaluates the temporal stability of PICS by not only detecting the trend but also locating significant shifts (change points) lying behind the time series. A single time series was formed using the virtual constellation approach in which multiple sensors data were combined for each site to achieve denser temporal coverage and overcome the limitation of dependence related to a specific sensor. The sensors used for this work were selected based on radiometric calibration uncertainty and availability of the data: operational land imager (Landsat8), enhanced thematic mapper (Landsat-7), moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (Terra and Aqua), and multispectral instrument (Sentinel-2A). An inverse variance weighting method was applied to the Top-of-Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance time series to reveal the underlying trend. The sequential Mann–Kendall test was employed upon the weighted TOA reflectance time-series recorded over 20 years to detect abrupt changes for six reflective bands. Statistically significant trends and abrupt changes have been detected for all sites, but the magnitude of the trends (maximum of 0.215% change in TOA reflectance per year) suggest that these sites are not changing substantially over time. Hence, it can be stated that despite minor changes in all evaluated PICS, they can be used for radiometric calibration of optical remote sensing sensors. The new approach provides useful results by revealing underlying trends and providing a better understanding of PICS’ stability.

Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Site-Based Trend-to-Trend Cross-Calibration of Optical Satellite Sensors

Satellite sensors have been extremely useful and are in massive demand in the understanding of the Earth’s surface and monitoring of changes. For quantitative analysis and acquiring consistent measurements, absolute radiometric calibration is necessary. The most common vicarious approach of radiometric calibration is cross-calibration, which helps to tie all the sensors to a common radiometric scale for consistent measurement. One of the traditional methods of cross-calibration is performed using temporally and spectrally stable pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS). This technique is limited by adequate cloud-free acquisitions for cross-calibration which would require a longer time to study the differences in sensor measurements. To address the limitation of traditional PICS-based approaches and to increase the cross-calibration opportunity for quickly achieving high-quality results, the approach presented here is based on using extended pseudo invariant calibration sites (EPICS) over North Africa. With the EPICS-based approach, the area of extent of the cross-calibration site covers a large portion of the North African continent. With targets this large, many sensors should image some portion of EPICS nearlydaily, allowing for evaluation of performance with much greater frequency. By using these near-daily measurements, trends of the sensor’s performance are then used to evaluate sensor-to-sensor daily cross-calibration. With the use of the proposed methodology, the dataset for cross-calibration is increased by an order of magnitude compared to traditional approaches, resulting in the differences between any two sensors being detected within a much shorter time. Using this new trend in trend cross-calibration approaches, gains were evaluated for Landsat 7/8 and Sentinel 2A/B, with the results showing that the sensors are calibrated within 2.5% (within less than 8% uncertainty) or better for all sensor pairs, which is consistent with what the traditional PICS-based approach detects. The proposed cross-calibration technique is useful to cross-calibrate any two sensors without the requirement of any coincident or near-coincident scene pairs, while still achieving results similar to traditional approaches in a short time.

Hyperspectral Empirical Absolute Calibration Model Using Libya 4 Pseudo Invariant Calibration Site

The objective of this paper is to find an empirical hyperspectral absolute calibration model using Libya 4 pseudo invariant calibration site (PICS). The approach involves using the Landsat 8 (L8) Operational Land Imager (OLI) as the reference radiometer and using Earth Observing One (EO-1) Hyperion, with a spectral resolution of 10 nm as a hyperspectral source. This model utilizes data from a region of interest (ROI) in an “optimal region” of 3% temporal, spatial, and spectral stability within the Libya 4 PICS. It uses an improved, simple, empirical, hyperspectral Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution function (BRDF) model accounting for four angles: solar zenith and azimuth, and view zenith and azimuth angles. This model can perform absolute calibration in 1 nm spectral resolution by predicting TOA reflectance in all existing spectral bands of the sensors. The resultant model was validated with image data acquired from satellite sensors such as Landsat 7, Sentinel 2A, and Sentinel 2B, Terra MODIS, Aqua MODIS, from their launch date to 2020. These satellite sensors differ in terms of the width of their spectral bandpass, overpass time, off-nadir viewing capabilities, spatial resolution, and temporal revisit time, etc. The result demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed model has an accuracy of the order of 3% with a precision of about 3% for the nadir viewing sensors (with view zenith angle up to 5°) used in the study. For the off-nadir viewing satellites with view zenith angle up to 20°, it can have an estimated accuracy of 6% and precision of 4%.

Calibrating Geosynchronous and Polar Orbiting Satellites: Sharing Best Practices

Earth remote sensing optical satellite systems are often divided into two categories—geosynchronous and sun-synchronous. Geosynchronous systems essentially rotate with the Earth and continuously observe the same region of the Earth. Sun-synchronous systems are generally in a polar orbit and view differing regions of the Earth at the same local time. Although similar in instrument design, there are enough differences in these two types of missions that often the calibration of the instruments can be substantially different. Thus, respective calibration teams develop independent methods and do not interact regularly or often. Yet, there are numerous areas of overlap and much to learn from one another. To address this issue, a panel of experts from both types of systems was convened to discover common areas of concern, areas where improvements can be made, and recommendations for the future. As a result of the panelist’s efforts, a set of eight recommendations were developed. Those that are related to improvements of current technologies include maintaining sun-synchronous orbits (not allowing orbital decay), standardization of spectral bandpasses, and expanded use of well-developed calibration techniques such as deep convective clouds, pseudo invariant calibration sites, and lunar methodologies. New techniques for expanded calibration capability include using geosynchronous instruments as transfer radiometers, continued development of ground-based prelaunch calibration technologies, expansion of RadCalNet, and development of space-based calibration radiometer systems.

An Empirical Radiometric Intercomparison Methodology Based on Global Simultaneous Nadir Overpasses Applied to Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2

The Simultaneous Nadir Overpass (SNO) method was developed by the NOAA/NESDIS to improve the consistency and quality of climate data acquired by different meteorological satellites. Taking advantage of the reduced impact induced by the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), atmospheric effects, illumination and viewing geometries during an SNO, we created a sensor comparison methodology for all spectral targets. The method is illustrated by applying it to the assessment of data acquired by the Landsat 8 (L8), Sentinel-2A (S2A), and Sentinel-2B (S2B) optical sensors. Multiple SNOs were identified and selected without the need for orbit propagators. Then, by locating spatially homogeneous areas, it was possible to assess, for a wide range of Top-of-Atmosphere reflectance values, the relationship between the L8 bands and the corresponding ones of S2A and S2B. The results yield high coefficients of determination for S2 A/B with respect to L8. All are higher than 0.980 for S2A and 0.984 for S2B. If the S2 band 8 (wide near-infrared, NIR) is excluded then the lowest coefficients of determination become 0.997 and 0.999 from S2A and S2B, respectively. This methodology can be complementary to those based on Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) due to its simplicity, highly correlated results and the wide range of compared reflectances and spectral targets.

Preliminary Selection and Characterization of Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites in Northwest China

Pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS) have been used for the radiometric calibration and stability monitoring of satellite optical sensors. Several stable PICS, such as those in the Sahara Desert in North Africa, were selected for the vicarious calibration of earth remote sensing satellites. However, the selection procedure of PICSs in the whole of Northwest China has not been fully explored before. This paper presents a novel technique for selecting PICS in Northwest China by combined using the coefficient of variation (CV) and the iteratively reweighted multivariate alteration detection (IR-MAD) technique. IR-MAD, which calculates the differences between two multispectral N-band images from the same scene acquired at different times, is used to identify no-change pixels (NCPs) of the scene through one image pair. The NCPs from IR-MAD using the long-term data of FY-3 visible infrared radiometer (VIRR) and aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were aggregated into the contiguously stable sites. The traditional spatial uniformity and temporal stability from MODIS surface products were used to select the potential PICS. By combining the results of both methods, over thirty PICSs with a wider brightness range of the scene types were selected. To confirm and characterize these PICSs over Northwest China, Landsat operational land imager (OLI) high-spatial-resolution images were used to check the spatial uniformity of the selected site to determine the specific location and the size of these sites. Additionally, the surface spectral reflectance and bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) were obtained from the field campaign at Chaidamu Basin, 2018. To demonstrate the practical utilization and usability of these PICSs, they were employed in the multi-site top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance simulation to validate the operational calibration performance of Aqua/MODIS and FY-3D/MERSI-II (Medium Resolution Spectral Imager II). The simulation results showed good consistency compared with the observations from both MODIS and MERSI-II, with a relative bias and root mean square error (RMSE) of <5% and <0.05%, respectively. These sites provide prospects for multi-site vicarious calibrations of solar reflective bands, which may help to evaluate or characterize instrumental nonlinear responses using a wider signal dynamic from the sites in different seasons.

Observations and Recommendations for Coordinated Calibration Activities of Government and Commercial Optical Satellite Systems

One of the biggest changes in the world of optical remote sensing over the last several years is the sheer increase in the number of sensors that are imaging the Earth in moderate to high spatial resolution. With respect to the calibration of these sensors, they are broadly classified into two types, namely government systems and commercial systems. Because of the differences in the design and mission of these sensor types, calibration approaches are often substantially different. Thus, an opportunity exists to foster discussion between calibration teams for these sensors with the goal of improving overall sensor calibration and data interoperability. The approach used to accomplish this task was a one-day workshop where team members from both government and commercial sensors could share best practices, discuss methods for collaboration and improvement, and make recommendations for continuing activities. Five major recommendations were developed from the event that focused on coordinated activities using pseudo invariant calibration sites (PICS), broader and more consistent communication, collaboration on specific cross-calibration opportunities, developing a reference sensor for all optical systems, and encouraging the coordinated development of surface reflectance products. Workshop participants concluded that regular interactions between these teams could foster a better calibration of all sensor systems and accelerate the improved interoperability of surface products.

Radiometric Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis of KOMPSAT-3A Using the Reflectance-Based Method.

In recent years, Korea has sustained consistent access to remote sensed data by launching Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-3A (KOMPSAT-3A, K3A)—an updated version of the high-resolution KOMPSAT series. This KOMPSAT-3A required calibration and validation (Cal/Val) before and after its launch to enable proper functional characterization and to maintain the veracity of data collected. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) executed the initial prelaunch calibration in the laboratory and we performed the Cal/Val of KOMPSAT-3A during the Launch and Early Operation Phase (LEOP) in the field. Two suitable sites in Korea and Mongolia with stable weather, almost uniform terrain, and near Lambertian diffusion, provided the necessary tarp reflectance to calculate the absolute radiometric calibration coefficients. The surface reflectance was determined using 12 and four well-calibrated reference reflectance tarps employing the FieldSpec® 3(Analytical Spectral Devices Inc., Boulder, CO, USA) Spectroradiometer. Subsequently, the top of atmosphere (TOA) radiance was estimated using radiative transfer code (RTC) software based on the Atmospheric and Topographic Correction (ATCOR). In addition, cross calibration was simultaneously performed at the Libya-4 pseudo invariant calibration site (PICS) for KOMPSAT-3A TOA radiance, using the spectral band adjustment factor (SBAF) compensated Landsat 8 reflectance and the Second Simulation of Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6S) to compute cross calibration coefficients. The results of the KOMPSAT-3A absolute calibration coefficient show that the R2 values were over 0.99, implying a significant correlation for almost all bands between the TOA radiance and the KOMPSAT-3A spectral band response at both campaign sites. However, this study reveals a difference of less than 5% calibration gains for all bands compared to the prelaunch values, while the cross calibration gain is below 5% in visible bands and above 5% in the near infrared band. An effort to optimize the reliability of the absolute calibration coefficients resorted to the rigorous quantification of uncertainties amongst atmospheric conditions, the digital number (DN), the reflectance tarp, the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), and ozone levels. Therefore, we presumed that the total uncertainty was 4.27%, which conforms to some published results.

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Variability in Libya-4 with Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 Data for Optimized Ground Target Location

Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) have been widely used by the remote sensing community in recent decades for post-launch absolute calibration, cross-calibration, and the monitoring of radiometric stability. The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) has established several official PICS for these purposes. Of these, Libya-4 is the most commonly used, due to its high uniformity and stability. The site was chosen as a large-area site for medium resolution sensors, and with high-resolution sensors now common, smaller sites are being identified. This work has identified an improved area of interest (AOI) within Libya-4 by using combined Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 data. The Optimized Ground Target (OGT) was determined by calculating the coefficient of variation along with the use of a quasi-Newton optimization algorithm combined with the Basin–Hopping global optimization technique to constrain a search area small enough to perform a final brute-force refinement. The Coefficient of Variation CV of the proposed OGT is significantly lower than that in the original CEOS area, with differences between the CV of both zones in the order of 1% in the visible near-infrared (VNIR) bands. This new AOI has the potential to improve the cross-calibration between high-resolution sensors using the PICS methodology through an OGT with more homogeneous and stable characteristics.

Lifetime Absolute Calibration of the EO-1 Hyperion Sensor and its Validation

The Earth-Observing One Hyperion sensor was decommissioned on March 20, 2017. Analysis of Libya 4 Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICSs) image data acquired from 2004 to final decommissioning indicated statistically significant drifts in sensor response in the bands 8 to 16 (426.82, 436.99, 447.17, 457.34, 467.52, 477.69, 487.87, 498.04, and 508.22 nm) and bands 206 (2213.93 nm), 209 (2244.22 nm), and 210 (2254.22 nm). The estimated yearly drift in these bands ranges between −0.136% and −0.049%. After correction accounting for the estimated drift, the absolute radiometric calibration of the sensor was evaluated through vicarious reflectance-based calibrations performed at the South Dakota State University (SDSU) test site and the Radiometric Calibration Network (RadCalNet) Railroad Valley site using data from 2002 to 2015. Calibration correction coefficients including gain as much as 1.40 and bias as large as 0.132 were found except absorption bands (890–980, 1090–1180, 1305–1520, and 1750–2050 nm). Finally, the yearly drift and calibration correction coefficients were validated by comparison of the banded multispectral Hyperion data after any significant drift and calibration coefficient correction with Landsat 7 data. The validation showed that after drift and calibration coefficient correction, there is no significant gain and bias using different test sites at different signal levels. The drift and calibration correction coefficients of each band are provided in this paper.

Contribution to Sandy Site Characterization: Spectro-Directional Signature, Grain Size Distribution and Mineralogy Extracted from Sand Samples

The characterization of sands detailed in this paper has been performed in order to support the in-flight radiometric performance assessment of space-borne optical sensors over the so-called Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS). Although the physical properties of PICS surface are fairly stable in time, the signal measured from space varies with the illumination and the viewing geometries. Thus, there is a need to characterize the spectro-directional properties of PICS. This could be done on a broad scale, thanks to multi-spectral multi-directional space-borne sensors such as the POLDER instrument (with old data). However, interpolating or extrapolating the spectro-directional reflectance measured from space to spectral bands of another sensor is not straightforward. The hyperspectral characterization of sand samples collected within or nearby PICS could contribute to a solution. In this context, a set of 31 sand samples was compiled. The BiConical Reflectance Factor (BCRF), linked to Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), was measured between 0.4 and 2.5 µm, over a half hemisphere when the amount of sand in the sample was large enough and for only a single fixed angular configuration for small samples. These optical measurements were complemented by grain size distribution measurements and mineralogical analysis and compiled together with previously published measurements in the so-called PICSAND database, freely available online.