Relating Landsat digital count values to ground reflectance for optically thin atmospheric conditions

The data from seven separate investigations that relate corrected Landsat digital count (DCc) values to ground-measured bidirectional reflectance R were summarized and examined as a single data set. As shown in the results these seven different sources of data were in significant agreement in estimating R from DCc. Thus a simplified linear formulation was derived for estimating R (0-100%) from Landsat DCc for conditions that approximate optically thin atmospheres. The relations are R4 = -5.9 + 0.476DCc4, R5 = -1 94 + 0.373DCc5, R6 = -1.40 + 0.412DCc6, and R7 = -0.49 + 1.220DCc7. The original Landsat digital count (DCo) data were corrected to a sun zenith angle of 39 degrees and for the 1/22/75-7/15/75 Landsat-2 calibration period to determine DCc.