Evaluation of relative atmospheric correction methods on ASTER VNIR–SWIR data in playa environment

Thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) L1B visible-near infrared and short wave-infrared (VNIR–SWIR) data were used to evaluate various relative calibration methods in playa environments. Internal average relative reflectance (IARR), log residual (LR), flat field (FF), and quick atmospheric correction (QUAC) methods were performed to convert at-sensor radiance data to apparent reflectance over several playas in Birjand, East of Iran. Results were evaluated comparing the calibrated image spectra of known locations and the laboratory spectra of field samples. The comparisons were done using spectral angle mapper (SAM) method and qualitative analysis of the spectral profiles. The SAM results and the qualitative analysis of the spectral profiles showed that spectra provided by applying FF method produced more similarities with laboratory spectra.