Comparison of MSS relative radiometric calibration methods

Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data has the potential for being widely used in global change studies since it has been collected for nearly twenty years. It is crucial to the success of these studies that MSS data be as radiometrically accurate as possible. In order to assess the quality of relative radiometric correction algorithms, a study was undertaken to compare the two commonly used techniques: use of the internal calibrator, and use of scene statistics. A new technique was developed to quantify the observed differences. Results from this study indicated clear, consistent differences exist between the two commonly used relative calibration methods and suggest that relative radiometric calibration of MSS data can be performed more effectively using the scene statistics approach.