Atmospheric corrections: on deriving surface reflectance from hyperspectral imagers

Over the last decade a series of techniques has been developed to correct hyperspectral imaging sensed at to apparent surface reflectance. The techniques range from the empirical line method that makes use of ground target measurements to model-based methods such as the atmospheric removal program and MODTRAN that derive parameters from the data themselves to convert radiance to reflectance. Hybrid methods have been developed to augment the model calculations to provide better quality reflectance data. The model methods are computing intensive and,therefore, there is interest in developing more rapid methods to correct the data to reflectance. A parametric technique described here is in the early stages of development and could provide a breakthrough in speed of correction.