Multi-spectral classification of snow using NOAA AVHRR imagery

Andrew R. Harrison, Richard M. Lucas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Problems of accurate discrimination between snow and cloud, together with the detection of the snow pack boundary, have handicapped the use of satellite data in operational snow-cover mapping systems. A technique, involving an unsupervised clustering procedure, is described which allows the removal of cloud areas using NOAA-9 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) channel-1, channel-3 and channel-4 data in conditions of recent snow lie and a difference channel (channel-2 —channel-1 with channel-3 and channel-4) during periods of advanced snow melt. Accurate delineation of snow extent is provided by the techniques if these specified snow conditions are taken into account. A method for the identification of areas of marginal snow melt is also presented, based on comparisons with Landsat Thematic Mapper data. The classifications also enable the determination of snow areas influenced by cloud shadows and conifer forest in addition to separating areas of differing snow depth and percentage cover.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)907-916
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Remote Sensing
Volume10
Issue number4-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

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