ARSF project IPY07/12: An evaluation of VIS-SWIR reflectance correction approaches for high latitude glaciated environments. Led by Dr. Meredith Willams, Geomatics and Water Resources Research Group (GWRRG), School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Newcastle University, Cassie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU. Location: SE Iceland

Cost and time-effective reflectance correction is an important issue for multispectral and hyperspectral imagery from both airborne and spaceborne platforms. In high latitude glaciated environments data acquisition conditions often fall outside the range of illumination levels and solar elevations considered acceptable for mid latitude deployments. System performance can also be compromised by the wide range of target brightness levels encountered around glacial margins. This project hasl directly compared the performance and appropriateness of a range of simple VIS-SWIR reflectance correction procedures for airborne sensors such as CASI-2, ATM, Eagle and Hawk under varying conditions, utilising a small test site that falls within the well established and resourced EarthWatch Institute long-term monitoring project site in Skaftafell, SE Iceland.

The approaches that have been adopted have included radiative transfer modelling from FSF sunphotometer derived parameters and a variety of empirical line based methodologies using a range of ground calibration targets. The results have been directly compared with those achieved with ARSF imagery acquired during the 2006 NCAVEO Chilbolton experiment and the HY05/03 ARSF deployment. The final results have been used to provide recommendations on the optimal choice of reflectance correction methodologies for future airborne remote sensing campaigns in high latitude glaciated environments.