Nature of image correlation in visible and IR thermal ranges

On the basis of model concepts concerning natural heat-exchange processes, the mutual relation between visible and thermal images of ground terrain is analysed. The analytic expressions describing the dependence of the local correlation and linear regression coefficients between visible and IR therm al radiance on physical parameters of the observed surface elements are der ived. The meaning and practical applications of the analytic models are dis cussed. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.