Calibration of Thematic Mapper band 6 in the thermal infrared

A vicarious calibration of band 6 of the Thematic Mapper sensor carried on Landsat-5 was conducted at White Sands Missile Range (NM) in August 1992. The method utilized was based on direct measurements of surface temperature and local meteorological factors and an indirect measurement of surface emittance. Atmospheric path transmission and radiances were characterized using LOWTRAN7, and surface reflectance was derived from surface emittance. The difference between the preflight calibration and this calibration was less than 5%.