RETRIEVAL OF APPARENT SURFACE REFLECTANCE FROM AVIRIS DATA - A COMPARISON OF EMPIRICAL LINE, RADIATIVE-TRANSFER, AND SPECTRAL MIXTURE METHODS

Three methods for converting Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectro meter (AVIRIS) radiance data to apparent surface reflectance were comp ared using data collected over the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field in Neva da and the Pavant Butte tuff cone in Utah. The methods examined were t he empirical line method, radiative transfer modeling (using LOWTRAN 7 ), and spectral mixture analysis using reference endmembers. Of the th ree, the empirical line and spectral mixture methods both provided goo d results. The approach utilizing LOWTRAN 7 accentuates noise inherent in AVIRIS data and requires a very accurate estimate of atmospheric w ater.