The use of Space Shuttle images to improve cloud detection in mapping of tropical coral reef environments

Landsat and SPOT sensor data used for coral reef mapping were combined with multidate Space Shuttle photographs and digital video to distinguish small clouds from reef features. By using public-domain data from human spaceflights, we could use multidate techniques to improve mapping while reducing the number of satellite sensor images that had to be purchased. Results are illustrated for South Pacific atolls.

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