Reflectance- and irradiance-based calibration of landsat-5 thematic mapper

The reflectance- and irradiance-based methods are used to determine an absolute, radiometric calibration of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper for the solar reflective portion of the spectrum for data using the National Landsat Archive Production System format. Results are given for a calibration campaign at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in December 1996. The results of the two methods agree to better than 6% and comparisons with predicted, at-sensor radiances based on the gains and biases supplied with the data tape were found to differ by 1% to 41%. The results are also presented with reference to previously determined results from different processing techniques. The large differences between these results and the current values indicate the importance of consistent use of calibration for remotely-sensed data.