Evaluation and Intercomparison of Topographic Correction Methods Based on Landsat Images and Simulated Data

Topographic effects in medium and high spatial resolution remote sensing images greatly limit the application of quantitative parameter retrieval and analysis in mountainous areas. Many topographic correction methods have been proposed to reduce such effects. Comparative analyses on topographic correction algorithms have been carried out, some of which drew different or even contradictory conclusions. Performances of these algorithms over different terrain and surface cover conditions remain largely unknown. In this paper, we intercompared ten widely used topographic correction algorithms by adopting multi-criteria evaluation methods using Landsat images under various terrain and surface cover conditions as well as images simulated by a 3D radiative transfer model. Based on comprehensive analysis, we found that the Teillet regression-based models had the overall best performance in terms of topographic effects’ reduction and overcorrection; however, correction bias may be introduced by Teillet regression models when surface reflectance in the uncorrected images do not follow a normal distribution. We recommend including more simulated images for a more in-depth evaluation. We also recommend that the pros and cons of topographic correction methods reported in this paper should be carefully considered for surface parameters retrieval and applications in mountain regions.