Quick atmospheric correction code: algorithm description and recent upgrades

• Published in: Optical Engineering Vol. 51; no. 11; p. 111719
• Main Authors: Bernstein, Lawrence S, Jin, Xuemin, Gregor, Brian, Adler-Golden, Steven M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers 01.11.2012
• Subjects: algorithm; atmospheric correction; fast line-of-sight atmospheric analysis of spectral hypercubes; hyperspectral; quick atmospheric correction; reflectance; remote sensing; sensor; fast line-of-sight atmospheric analysis of spectral hypercubes; reflectance; hyperspectral; remote sensing; sensor; atmospheric correction; quick atmospheric correction; algorithm
• ISSN: 0091-3286; 1560-2303
• DOI: 10.1117/1.OE.51.11.111719

The quick atmospheric correction (QUAC) code performs atmospheric correction on multi- and hyperspectral imagery spanning all or part of the visible and near infrared-short wave infrared spectral range, ∼400−2500  nm. It utilizes an in-scene approach, requiring only approximate specification of sensor band locations (i.e., central wavelengths) and their radiometric calibration; no additional metadata is required. Because QUAC does not involve first principles radiative-transfer calculations, it is significantly faster than physics-based methods; however, it is also more approximate. We present a detailed description of the QUAC algorithm, highlighting recent accuracy improvements. Example results for several multi-and hyperspectral data sets are presented, and comparisons are made to more rigorous correction approaches.