Investigating availability of cloud free images with cloud masks in relation to satellite revisit frequency in the Northwest of England

Rok, strany: 2012, 63 - 100

The aim of this study is to determine the availability of cloud free images in relation to satellite revisit periods for the UK and in particular for the Northwest of England. Cloud free pixels were analysed with cloud masks from AVHRR/APOLLO and TERRA/MODIS satellite cloud products. Availability of cloud free images was determined from revisit frequency and the numbers of monthly images from Landsat ETM+, ASTER, Quickbird and SPOT satellite sensors series. The average number of cloud free days at Risley Moss and Charter's Moss is five days per month with a minimum of one cloud free day. The results show that satellite revisit periods and cloud free days are a major determinant of satellite data availability and in this study it was also found that contrary to popular opinion, satellite overpass does not necessarily mean imaging opportunity and additional cloud free images could be obtained when there are no satellite overpasses. The number of cloud free images at a given site may be increased by combining data from different satellites.

ISO 690:

Ogunbadewa, E. 2012. Investigating availability of cloud free images with cloud masks in relation to satellite revisit frequency in the Northwest of England. In Contributions to Geophysics and Geodesy, vol. 42, no.1, pp. 63-100. 1338-0540.

APA:

Ogunbadewa, E. (2012). Investigating availability of cloud free images with cloud masks in relation to satellite revisit frequency in the Northwest of England. Contributions to Geophysics and Geodesy, 42(1), 63-100. 1338-0540.