Distribution of cloud-free Landsat images in the Barents region

Tore Tollefsen

doi:10.1117/12.197376

21 December 1994 Distribution of cloud-free Landsat images in the Barents region

Tore Tollefsen

Proceedings Volume 2312, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Random Phenomena; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.197376
Event: Satellite Remote Sensing, 1994, Rome, Italy

Abstract

The utility of optical satellites depends heavily on latitude and cloud cover. In the north-eastern corner of the Fenno-Scandinavian landmass, extreme seasonal variations in sunlight and the clashing of weather fronts severely limit the season for optical satellites. In this paper, we examine the distribution of cloud-free Landsat images of the Barents Region during 1984-93. Based on cloud-cover data from ground station archives, we derive the observed frequency of cloud-free images (having less than 10 per cent cloud cover) of each of 10 scenes over 10 years. The data show that cloud-free images are very rare, and that they occur as isolated events in time. If the cloud-free images are essentially randomly distributed in space and time, they can be modelled by a Poisson distribution with unknown mean. Invoking the method of maximum likelihood, we estimate this parameter by the sample mean and hence compute the estimated expected frequencies. We find that they agree well with the observed frequencies. Next, we perform a X2 test to check the validity of the model. The computed test statistic falls below the critical one. Hence we conclude that the cloud-free images are randomly distributed in space and time.

Citation Download Citation

Tore Tollefsen "Distribution of cloud-free Landsat images in the Barents region", Proc. SPIE 2312, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Random Phenomena, (21 December 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.197376

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KEYWORDS

Clouds

Earth observing sensors

Landsat

Satellites

Statistical analysis

Data archive systems

Air contamination

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