NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 99

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 99

BOREAS Level-3s Landsat TM Imagery:

Scaled At-sensor Radiance in LGSOWG

Format

Jaime Nickeson, David Knapp, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS,

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Josef Cihlar, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20010021952 2018-05-14T18:50:36+00:00Z
The NASA STI Program Office ... in Profile

Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to

the advancement of aeronautics and space

science. The NASA Scientific and Technical

Information (STI) Program Office plays a key

part in helping NASA maintain this important

role.

The NASA STI Program Office is operated by

Langley Research Center, the lead center for

NASA's scientific and technical information. The

NASA STI Program Office provides access to

the NASA STI Database, the largest collection of

aeronautical and space science STI in the world.

The Program Office is also NASA's institutional

mechanism for disseminating the results of its

research and development activities. These

results are published by NASA in the NASA STI

Report Series, which includes the following

report types:

• TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of

completed research or a major significant

phase of research that present the results of

NASA programs and include extensive data or

theoretical analysis. Includes compilations of

significant scientific and technical data and

information deemed to be of continuing

reference value. NASA's counterpart of

peer-reviewed formal professional papers but

has less stringent limitations on manuscript

length and extent of graphic presentations.

• TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM. Scientific

and technical findings that are preliminary or

of specialized interest, e.g., quick release

reports, working papers, and bibliographies

that contain minimal annotation. Does not

contain extensive analysis.

• CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and

technical findings by NASA-sponsored

contractors and grantees.

CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected

papers from scientific and technical

conferences, symposia, seminars, or other

meetings sponsored or cosponsored by NASA.

SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, technical, or historical information from NASA

programs, projects, and mission, often concerned with subjects having substantial public

interest.

TECHNICAL TRANSLATION.

English-language translations of foreign scientific and technical material pertinent to NASA's

mission.

Specialized services that complement the STI

Program Office's diverse offerings include creating custom thesauri, building customized databases, organizing and publishing research results...

even providing videos.

For more information about the NASA STI Prograin Office, see the following:

Access the NASA STI Program Home Page at

http://www, sti.nasa.gov/STI-homepage.html

E-mail your question via the Internet to

help@ sti.nasa.gov

Fax your question to the NASA Access Help

Desk at (301) 621-0134

• Telephone the NASA Access Help Desk at

(301) 621-0390

Write to:

NASA Access Help Desk

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076-1320
NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 99

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 99

BOREAS Level-3s Landsat TM Imagery:

Scaled At-sensor Radiance in LGSOWG

Format

Jaime Nickeson, David Knapp, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS,

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Josef Cihlar, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076-1320

Price Code: A17

Available from:

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Price Code: A10
BOREAS Level-3s Landsat TM Imagery: Scaled At-sensor Radiance in

LGSOWG Format

Jaime Nickeson, David Knapp, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Josef Cihlar

Summary

For BOREAS, the level-3s Landsat TM data, along with the other remotely sensed images, were

collected in order to provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. This

information includes radiant energy, detailed land cover, and biophysical parameter maps such as

FPAR and LAI. CCRS collected and supplied the level-3s images to BOREAS for use in the remote

sensing research activities. Geographically, the bulk of the level-3s images cover the BOREAS NSA

and SSA with a few images covering the area between the NSA and SSA. Temporally, the images

cover the period of 22-Jun-1984 to 30-Jul-1996. The images are available in binary, image-format

files.

Note that the level-3s Landsat TM data are not contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set. An

inventory listing file is supplied on the CD-ROM to inform users of the data that were collected. See

Sections 15 and 16 for information about how to acquire the data.

Table of Contents

1) Data Set Overview

2) Investigator(s)

3) Theory of Measurements

4) Equipment

5) Data Acquisition Methods

6) Observations

7) Data Description

8) Data Organization

9) Data Manipulations

10) Errors

11) Notes

12) Application of the Data Set

13) Future Modifications and Plans

14) Software

15) Data Access

16) Output Products and Availability

17) References

18) Glossary of Terms

19) List of Acronyms

20) Document Information

1. Data Set Overview

1.1 Data Set Identification

BOREAS Level-3s Landsat TM Imagery: Scaled At-sensor Radiance in LGSOWG Format

1.2 Data Set Introduction

The BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Staff Science effort covered those activities

that were BOREAS community-level activities, or required uniform data collection procedures across

sites and time. These activities included the acquisition of the relevant satellite data. Data from the

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) instruments on the Landsat satellites were acquired by the Canada

Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) and provided for use by BOREAS researchers.

Page 1
1.3 Objective/Purpose

For BOREAS, the Landsat TM imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was

collected in order to provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. This

information includes detailed land cover and biophysical parameter maps such as biomass, Fraction of

Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR), and Leaf Area Index (LAI).

1.4 Summary of Parameters

Landsat TM level-3s data in the BOREAS Information System (BORIS) contains the following

parameters:

Original image header information, image coordinates, gains and offsets for each band for

at-sensor radiance derivations, image bands 1 to 7 processed with systematic spatial corrections.

1.5 Discussion

Use and distribution of the level-3s Landsat TM images are subject to copyright restrictions. CCRS

and Radarsat International (RSI) granted permission to BOREAS to place a subset of the level-3a

Landsat TM images on the BOREAS CD-ROM series; however, none of the level-3b images are

included. The level-3s images may not be available for public access. Please see Sections 15 and 16

for further details.

BORIS staff processed the Landsat TM level-3s imagery by:

• Extracting pertinent header information from the level-3s image product and placing it in an

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) file on disk.

• Reading the information in the ASCII disk file and loading the online data base with pertinent

information.

1.6 Related Data Sets

BOREAS Level-3a Landsat TM Imagery: Scaled At-sensor Radiance in BSQ Format

BOREAS Level-3b Landsat TM Imagery: At-sensor Radiances in BSQ Format

BOREAS Level-3p Landsat TM Imagery: Geocoded and Scaled At-sensor Radiance

BOREAS Level-3s SPOT Imagery: Scaled At-sensor Radiance in LGSOWG Format

2. Investigator(s)

2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title

BOREAS Staff Science

2.2 Title of Investigation

BOREAS Staff Science Satellite Data Acquisition Program

2.3 Contact Information

Contact 1:

Josef Cihlar

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

588 Booth Street, 4th Floor

Ottawa, Ontario

K1AOY7 Canada

(613) 947-1265

Josef.Cihlar@geocan.emr.ca

Page 2
Contact 2:

Jeffrey A. Newcomer

Raytheon ITSS

Code 923

NASA GSFC

Greenbelt, MD 20771

(301) 286-785

(301) 286-0239

Jeffrey.Newcomer@ gsfc.nasa.gov

3. Theory of Measurements

The Landsat series of satellites began with the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) launched

in July 1972. This satellite was renamed Landsat 1 in 1975 to reflect its primary use as a land resource

observatory. Through its onboard instruments, Landsat monitors Earth's mountain ranges, deserts,

forests, and crops by measuring the light waves they reflect.

The second generation of Landsat satellites (4 and 5) marked a significant advance in remote

sensing through the addition of the more sophisticated TM sensor, with higher spectral and spatial

resolution, and faster data processing at a highly automated data processing facility at the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt,

MD. For BOREAS, the CCRS receiving station in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, collected the raw

data. Processing of the raw data to the level-3p images was performed with the Geocoded Image

Correction System (GICS; Friedel, 1992) at the CCRS facility in Ottawa.

As Landsat's instrument mirrors scan Earth's surface, light enters the instrument optics, where it is

focused on specially calibrated detector arrays. Onboard electronics encode the detector voltage as

binary digits or bits. These digital image data are then relayed back to Earth to be processed into film

and Computer-Compatible Tape (CCT) products, which are subsequently used for Earth resources

analysis.

4. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

The TM sensor system records radiation from seven bands in the electromagnetic spectrum. It has

a telescope that directs the incoming radiant flux obtained along a scan line through a scan line collector

to the visible and near-infrared focal plane, or to the mid-infrared and thermal-infrared cooled focal

plane. The detectors for the visible and near-infrared bands (1 to 4) are four staggered linear arrays,

each containing 16 silicon detectors. The two mid-infrared detectors are 16 indium-antimonide cells in

a staggered linear array, and the thermal-infrared detector is a four-element array of

mercury-cadmium-telluride cells. The spectral regions, band widths, and primary use of each channel

are given in the following table:

Channel Wavelength (_m) Primary Use

1 0.451

2 0.526

3 0 .622

4 0.771

5 1.564

- 0

- 0

- 0

- 0

- 1

521 Coastal water mapping, soil vegetation

differentiation, deciduous/coniferous

differentiation.

615 Green reflectance by healthy vegetation.

699 Chlorophyll absorption for plant species

differentiation.

905 Biomass surveys, water body delineation.

790 Vegetation moisture measurement, snow and

differentiation.

cloud

Page 3
6 10.450 - 12.460 Plant heat stress measurement,

mapping.

7 2.083 - 2.351 Hydrothermal mapping.

other thermal

4.1.1 Collection Environment

The BOREAS Landsat TM level-3s images were acquired through the CCRS. Radiometric

corrections and systematic geometric corrections are applied to produce the images in a path-oriented

and systematically corrected (level-3s) form. A full TM image contains 6,920 pixels in each of 5,728

lines. Before any geometric corrections, the ground resolution is 30 m for bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7

and 120 m for band 6 at nadir. The pixel values of the images can range from 0 to 255. This allows

each pixel to be stored in a single-byte field. The level-3s images were processed through the CCRS

GICS. The Landsat satellite orbits Earth at an altitude of 705 kin.

4.1.2 Source/Platform

Although the majority of the BOREAS Landsat TM imagery was acquired by the instrument

onboard Landsat 5, some imagery was obtained with the TM sensor on the Landsat 4 platform.

4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives

The Landsat TM is designed to respond to and measure both reflected and emitted Earth surface

radiation to enable the investigation, survey, inventory, and mapping of Earth's natural resources.

4.1.4 Key Variables

Reflected radiation, emitted radiation, temperature.

4.1.5 Principles of Operation

The TM is a scanning optical sensor operating in the visible and infrared wavelengths. It contains a

scan mirror assembly that directly projects the reflected Earth radiation onto detectors arrayed in two

focal planes. The TM achieves better image resolution, sharper color separation, and greater in-flight

geometric and radiometric accuracy for seven spectral bands simultaneously than the previous

generation sensor, the MultiSpectral Scanner (MSS). Data collected by the sensor are beamed back to

ground receiving stations for processing.

4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry

The TM sensor depends on the forward motion of the spacecraft for the along-track scan and uses

moving mirror assembly to scan in the cross-track direction (perpendicular to the spacecraft). The

instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) for each detector from bands 1-5 and band 7 is equivalent to a

30-m square when projected to the ground at nadir; band 6 (the thermal-infrared band) has an IFOV

equivalent to a 120-m square at nadir.

4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument

NASA GSFC

Greenbelt, MD 20771

Hughes Santa Barbara Remote Sensing (SBRS)

Goleta, CA

4.2 Calibration

The internal calibrator, a flex-pivot-mounted shutter assembly, is synchronized with the scan

mirror, oscillating at the same 7-Hz frequency. During the turnaround period of the scan mirror, the

shutter introduces the calibration source energy and a black direct-current restoration surface into the

100-detector field-of-view (FOV).

The calibration signals for bands 1-5 and 7 are derived from three regulated tungsten-filament

lamps. The calibration source for band 6 is a blackbody with three temperature selections, commanded

from the ground. The method for transmitting radiation to the moving calibration shutter allows the

Page 4
tungstenlampstoprovideradiationindependentlyandto contributeproportionatelyto theillumination

of all detectors.

4.2.1 Specifications

Radiometric

Band Sensitivity [NE(dP)]*

0 8%

0 5%

0 5%

5%

O%

5 K

4%

[NE (dT)]

Ground IFOV 30 m (Bands 1-5, 7)

120 m (Band 6)

Avg. altitude 699.6 Km

Data rate 85 Mbps

Quantization levels 256

Orbit angle 8.15 degrees

Orbital nodal period 98.88 minutes

Scan width 185 km

Scan angle 14.9 degrees

Image overlap 7.6%

Note: The radiometric sensitivities are the noise-equivalent (NE) reflectance differences for the

reflective channels expressed as percentages [NE(dP)] and temperature differences for the

thermal-infrared bands [NE(dT)] in Kelvins.

4.2.1.1 Tolerance

The TM channels were designed for a NE differential represented by the radiometric sensitivity

shown in Section 4.2.1.

4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration

The absolute radiometric calibration between bands on the TM sensor is maintained by using

internal calibrators located between the telescope and the detectors that are sampled at the end of a scan.

4.2.3 Other Calibration Information

Relative within-band radiometric calibration, to reduce "striping," is provided by a scene-based

procedure called histogram equalization. Because of the absolute accuracy and relative precision of this

calibration scheme, it is assumed that any changes in the optics of the primary telescope or the

"effective radiance" from the internal calibrator lamps are insignificant in comparison to the changes in

detector sensitivity and electronic gain and bias with time and that the scene-dependent sampling is

sufficiently precise for the required within-scan destriping from histogram equalization.

Each TM reflective band and the internal calibrator lamps were calibrated prior to launch using

lamps in integrating spheres that were in turn calibrated against lamps traceable to calibrated National

Bureau of Standards lamps. The absolute radiometric calibration constants in the "short-term" and

"long-term" parameter files used for ground processing were modified after launch if there was an

inconsistency within or between bands, a change in the inherent dynamic range of the sensors, or a

desire to make quantized and calibrated values from one sensor match those from another.

Page 5
5. Data Acquisition Methods

The BOREAS Landsat TM level-3s imagery was acquired through the CCRS. Radiometric corrections

and systematic geometric corrections are applied to produce the images in a path-oriented,

systematically corrected spatial form. A full level-3s TM image contains 6,920 pixels in each of 5,728

lines (see Section 11.2). Before any geometric corrections, the ground resolution is 30 m for bands

1-5 and 7 and 120 m for band 6 at nadir. The pixel values of the images can range from 0 to 255. This

allows each pixel to be stored in a single-byte field. The level-3s images were processed through the

CCRS GICS system.

6.1 Data Notes

None.

6.2 Field Notes

Not applicable.

6. Observations

7. Data Description

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

The BOREAS level-3s Landsat TM images primarily cover the Southern Study Area (SSA) and the

Northern Study Area (NSA). Some of the imagery covers the transect area between the SSA and the

NSA or the Prince Albert National Park (PANP) west of the SSA. The SSA and the NSA are located

in the southwest and northeast portions of the overall region. A full TM scene covers approximately

31,000 square kilometers.

The North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) comer coordinates of the SSA are:

Latitude Long itude

Northwest 54.321 N 106.228 W

Northeast 54.225 N 104.237 W

Southwest 53.515 N 106.321 W

Southeast 53.420 N 104.368 W

The NAD83 comer coordinates of the NSA are:

Latitude Longitude

Northwest 56.249 N 98.825 W

Northeast 56.083 N 97.234 W

Southwest 55.542 N 99.045 W

Southeast 55.379 N 97.489 W

7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map

Not available.

Page 6
7.1.3 Spatial Resolution

Beforeanygeometriccorrections,thespatialresolutionis 30m for bands1-5and7 and120m for

band6 atnadir.Thesevaluesincreasewith scanangleawayfrom thenadirpath.Thelevel-3sLandsat

TM imageshavehadgeometriccorrectionsappliedsothatthespatialresolutionfor all pixelsis 30m in

all bands.Theselevel-3simageshaveahighlevelof internalspatialintegrity but the actual geographic

coordinates contained in the image header can be offset from their actual positions by as much as 20

km (personal communication with CCRS personnel, 1994).

7.1.4 Projection

The level-3s Landsat TM images are placed in a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection

based on NAD83. Detailed projection parameter information for the individual images is contained in

the leader file(s).

7.1.5 Grid Description

The pixel/grid spacing for each pixel in the level-3s Landsat TM images is 30 m in the UTM

projection. Detailed grid parameter information for the individual images is contained in the leader

file(s).

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The BOREAS level-3s Landsat TM acquisitions cover 22-Jun-1984 to 30-Jul-1996. Imagery

acquired before the BOREAS field campaigns were conducted is included in the BOREAS archive with

imagery collected during the project. Historical Landsat data have been acquired by CCRS routinely

since the launch of Landsat 1 and are kept in the CCRS archive. Since the mid-1980s, CCRS has been

acquiring and archiving all Landsat data over Canada during the growing season; however, during the

winter, only requested data were obtained. For BOREAS, this policy was modified to obtain data

throughout the year over the BOREAS region. The acquired data are archived by CCRS and can be

interrogated to ascertain which scenes were archived and their characteristics.

Page 7
7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map

Date Study Area Date Study Area

ii-Jui-1984 SSA

12-Aug-1984 SSA

07-Jui-1985 SSA

ll-Aug-1986 SSA

18-Aug-1986 SSA

30-Aug-1987 SSA

20-Jun-1988 SSA

06-Jui-1988 SSA

23-Aug-1988 SSA

02-Jui-1989 SSA

04-Sep-1989 SSA

06-Aug-1990 SSA

06-Aug-1990 SSA

29-Aug-1990 SSA

05-May-1991 SSA

06-Jun-1991 SSA

24-Jui-1991 SSA

09-Aug-1991 SSA

10-Sep-1991 SSA

15-Jun-1992 SSA

18-Jan-1993 SSA

29-Jui-1993 SSA

06-Feb-1994 SSA

20-Apr-1994 SSA

07-Jun-1994 SSA

29-Mar-1995 SSA

03-Jui-1995 SSA

21-Sep-1995 SSA

27-Jan-1996 SSA

02-May-1996 SSA

30-Jui-1996 SSA

22-Jun-1984 NSA

19-Aug-1985 NSA

15-Aug-1986 NSA

01-Jun-1988 NSA

20-Aug-1988 NSA

05-Sep-1988 NSA

07-Aug-1989 NSA

25-Jui-1990 NSA

28-Jui-1991 NSA

06-Aug-1992 NSA

02-Aug-1993 NSA

10-Feb-1994 NSA

09-Jun-1994 NSA

13-Feb-1995 NSA

09-Apr-1995 NSA

ll-May-1995 NSA

21-Jun-1995 NSA

22-May-1996 NSA

09-Jui-1996 NSA

Date Study Area

23-Aug-88 PANP

12-Jul-90 PANP

Date Study Area

05-Aug-89 Transect

23-Jul-90 Transect

7.2.3 Temporal Resolution

The Landsat TM satellite revisit frequency is 16 days for each path/row; however, in the BOREAS

region the overlap between adjacent scene paths is about 50%.

7.3 Data Characteristics

7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

The main parameter contained in the image data files is scaled at-sensor radiance. The parameters

contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

Page 8
INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

PATH NUM

ROW NUM

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

CRTFCN CODE

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

For the image data files:

Scaled at-sensor radiance - The scaled value representing the quantized DN

derived by the TM scanning systemradiant energy

incident on the sensor aperture at the time of data

collection in the specific TM wavelength regions.

The descriptions of the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Description

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

PATH NUM

ROW NUM

The general term used to denote the spatial area

over which the data were collected.

The date on which the data were collected.

The starting Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The ending Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The object (e.g., satellite, aircraft, tower,

person) that supported the instrument.

The name of the device used to make the

measurements.

The number of spectral bands in the data.

The data analyst's assessment of the quality of

the spectral bands in the data.

The data analyst's assessment of the cloud cover

that exists in the data.

For Landsat and SPOT, the sequential number

given to the orbital paths trending from

northeast to southwest and extending around the

earth.

For Landsat and SPOT, the sequential number

given to the nominal scene acquisition points

Page 9
NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

CRTFCN CODE

along the orbital paths which trend from

northeast to southwest.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the northwest corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

for the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

northwest corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the north

east corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

north east corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the south

west corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southwest corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the south

east corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southeast corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The nominal altitude of the data collection plat

form above the target.

The minimum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The maximum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The minimum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The maximum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The BOREAS certification level of the data.

Examples are CPI (Checked by PI), CGR (Certified

by Group), PRE (Preliminary), and CPI-??? (CPI

but questionable).

Page 10
7.3.3 Unit of Measurement

The units for the scaled at-sensor radiance values vary by band. To obtain at-sensor radiance values

in Watts/(m2 * sr * ]am) use the formula:

At-sensor Radiance = Scaled Value * Gain + Offset

where the gain and Offset values are contained in the ASCII header file. The measurement units for the

parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Units

SPATIAL COVERAGE [none]

DATE OBS [DD-MON-YY]

START TIME [HHMM GMT]

END TIME [HHMM GMT]

PLATFORM [none]

INSTRUMENT [none]

NUM BANDS [counts]

BAND QUALITY [none]

CLOUD COVER [none]

PATH NUM [unitless]

ROW NUM [unitless]

NW LATITUDE [degrees]

NW LONGITUDE [degrees]

NE LATITUDE [degrees]

NE LONGITUDE [degrees]

SW LATITUDE [degrees]

SW LONGITUDE [degrees]

SE LATITUDE [degrees]

SE LONGITUDE [degrees]

PLATFORM ALTITUDE [meters]

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

CRTFCN CODE [none]

7.3.4 Data Source

The data contained in the level-3s Landsat TM data files come from various portions of the Landsat

satellite, the TM instrument, and the ground processing components. The level-3s Landsat TM images

were supplied to BOREAS by the CCRS. The sources of the parameter values contained in the

inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Data Source

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

[Determined by BORIS software from latitude and

longitude information contained on the level-3s

data files.]

[Determined by BORIS software from data and time

information contained on the level-3s data

files.]

[Determined by BORIS software from data and time

information contained on the level-3s data

files.]

[Determined by BORIS software from data and time

Page 11
PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

PATH NUM

ROW NUM

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

CRTFCN CODE

information contained on the level-3s data

files.]

[Determined by BORIS software from platform

information contained on the level-3s data

files.]

[Constant software value]

[Determined by BORIS software from processing of

the data files.]

[Assessed by BORIS personnel from viewing the

image.]

[Assessed by BORIS personnel from viewing the

image.]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from location

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Determined by BORIS software from platform

information contained on the level-3s data

files ]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Assigned by BORIS based on processing.]

Page 12
7.3.5 Data Range

The maximum range of scaled at-sensor radiance values in each level-3s Landsat TM image band is

limited from 0 (zero) to 255 so that the values can be stored in a single 8-bit (1-byte) field. The

following table gives information about the parameter values found in the inventory table on the

CD-ROM.

Minimum Maximum Missng Unrel Below Data

Data Data Data Data Detect Not

Column Name Value Value Value Value Limit Cllctd

SPATIAL COVERAGE N/A N/A None None None None

DATE OBS 22-JUN-84 30-JUL-96 None None None None

START TIME 1638 1735 None None None None

END TIME 1638 1735 None None None None

PLATFORM LANDSAT-5 LANDSAT-5 None None None None

INSTRUMENT THEMATIC THEMATIC None None None None

MAPPER MAPPER

NUM BANDS 7 7 None None None None

BAND QUALITY N/A N/A None None None None

CLOUD COVER N/A N/A None None None None

PATH NUM 33 38 None None None None

ROW NUM 20 23 None None None None

NW LATITUDE 54.00009 60.00021 None None None None

NW LONGITUDE -108.08837 -98.75538 None None None None

NE LATITUDE -106.98707 57.82097 None None None None

NE LONGITUDE -105.45392 -95.82957 None None None None

SW LATITUDE 52.52631 56.77072 None None None None

SW LONGITUDE -108.75375 54.95387 None None None None

SE LATITUDE 52.13967 56.33999 None None None None

SE LONGITUDE -106.10096 -96.68568 None None None None

PLATFORM ALTITUDE 705300 705300 None None None None

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG 35.2 77.9 None None None None

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG 35.2 77.9 None None None None

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG 132.5 154.6 None None None None

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG 132.5 154.6 None None None None

CRTFCN CODE CPI CPI None None None None

Minimum Data Value -- The minimum value found in the column.

Maximum Data Value -- The maximum value found in the column.

Missng Data Value -- The value that indicates missing data. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Unrel Data Value -- The value that indicates unreliable data. This is used

to indicate an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the value was deemed to be

unreliable by the analysis personnel.

Below Detect Limit -- The value that indicates parameter values below the

instruments detection limits. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the analysis personnel determined

that the parameter value was below the detection

limit of the instrumentation.

Data Not Cllctd -- This value indicates that no attempt was made to

determine the parameter value. This usually

indicates that BORIS combined several similar but

Page 13
not identical data sets into the same data

but this particular science team did not

measure that parameter.

base table

Blank -- Indicates that blank spaces are used to denote that type of value.

N/A -- Indicates that the value is not applicable to the respective column.

None -- Indicates that no values of that sort were found in the column.

7.4 Sample Data Record

A sample data record for the level-3s Landsat TM images is not available here. The following are

wrapped versions of the first few records from the level-3s Landsat TM inventory table on the

CD-ROM:

SPATIAL COVERAGE,DATE OBS,START TIME,END TIME,PLATFORM, INSTRUMENT,NUM BANDS,

BAND QUALITY,CLOUD COVER, PATH NUM, ROW NUM, NW LATITUDE,NW LONGITUDE,NE LATITUDE,

NE LONGITUDE,SW LATITUDE,SW LONGITUDE,SE LATITUDE,SE LONGITUDE,PLATFORM ALTITUDE,

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG,MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG,MIN SOLAR AZ ANG,MAX SOLAR AZ ANG,CRTFCN CODE

'NSA',22-JUN-84,1701,1701, 'LANDSAT-5', 'THEMATIC MAPPER',7, 'GOOD', '50%',33,21,

56.84831,-98.92454,56.4284,-96.0968,55.36081,-99.67174,54.94405,-96.84661,

705300.0,36.5,36.5,142.8,142.8, 'CPI'

'SSA',II-JUL-84,1732,1732, 'LANDSAT-5', 'THEMATIC MAPPER',7, 'GOOD',

'20% CLOUD COVER',38,22,55.0951,-107.49632,54.69609,-104.78902,53.60613,

-i08.1927,53.2059,-i05.47743,705300.0,37.0,37.0,140.0,140.0, 'CPI'

8. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest unit of data for level-3s Landsat TM imagery is a full TM scene.

8.2 Data Format(s)

The CD-ROM inventory listing file consists of numerical and character fields of varying length

separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed within single apostrophe marks. There are no

spaces between the fields.

The level-3s Landsat TM imagery from CCRS is stored in either a band sequential (BSQ) or band

interleaved by line (BIL) form. General information on these two formats is provided in the

subsequent sections. Detailed information on these can be obtained from the CCRS document

referenced in Section 17.1.

8.2.1 Band Sequential Format

The files associated with a band sequential TM scene are as follows:

File 1 volume directory

File 2 leader file band 1

File 3 TM band 1

File 4 trailer file band 1

File 5 leader file band 2

File 6 TM band 2

File 7 trailer file band 2

and so on...

File 21 TM band 7

File 22 trailer file band 7

File 23 null volume file

Page 14
If therearemultiplescenesonatape,thenextscenewouldoccupyfiles24-46,23filesexactlyas

above.Up to fourTM scenes(92files) arecontainedonone8-ramtape.Therearemultiple-volume

directoryfilesononetapemediabecausethe8-ramtapesweregeneratedby copyingtheoriginal

9-tracktapes,andeachoneof the9-tracktapeshadits ownvolumedirectory.Eachimagefile in BSQ

formatcontainsdatafor onespectralband.

8.2.1.1 BSQ Leader Files

The contents of Leader files have been defined in detail by the LGSOWG Technical Working

Group (LTWG). The contents of the Leader files are as follows:

File descriptor record; Scene header record; Map projection (scene-related) ancillary record;

Radiometric transformation ancillary record.

All leader files contain fixed length records 4,320 bytes in length and contain both ASCII and

binary data. For specific details, see the CCRS documentation referenced in Section 17.1.

8.2.1.2 BSQ Imagery File

The BSQ image files have 5,729 records, with each record containing 7,020 bytes. The first record

in this file is a header record, followed by 5,728 image records.

The contents of the Scene Header record are specified by LTWG standards and contain information

relating to the mission, sensor parameters, processing options, and geometric parameters for the

sensor.

Each image record contains 32 bytes of prefix data, 6,920 bytes of image data, and 68 bytes of

suffix data (32 + 6920 + 68 = 7020). Each image is oriented so that pixel 1, line 1 is in the upper

left-hand (i.e., northwest) comer of the screen display. Pixels and lines progress left to right and top to

bottom so that pixel n, line n is in the lower right-hand comer.

8.2.1.3 BSQ Trailer File

The trailer file contains information associated with the image data not always available before

writing the image data, such as data and recording quality and data summaries. Each trailer file

contains a file descriptor record and trailer records for all bands of imagery in the associated imagery

file. All trailer files contain fixed-length records of 4,320 bytes and contain both ASCII and binary

data. For specific details, see the CCRS documentation referenced in Section 17.1.

8.2.2 Band Interleaved by Line Format

The files associated with a BIL TM scene are as follows:

File 1 volume directory

File 2 leader file bands 1-7

File 3 TM bands 1-7 (first 1/3 of scene - 1910 lines)

File 4 volume directory

File 5 TM bands 1-7 (second 1/3 of scene - 1909 lines)

File 6 volume directory

File 7 TM bands 1-7 (final 1/3 of scene - 1909 lines)

File 8 trailer

File 9 null volume file

If there are multiple scenes on a tape, the next scene would occupy files 10-18, 9 files exactly as

above. Up to four TM scenes (36 files) are contained on one 8-ram tape. There are multiple volume

directory files on one tape media because the 8-ram tapes were generated from copying the original

9-track tapes, and each one of the 9-track tapes had its own volume directory. The image files in BIL

format contain image data for one or more spectral bands.

8.2.2.1 BIL Leader Files

See BSQ leader files.

Page 15
8.2.2.2 BIL Imagery File

ThethreeBIL imagefileshave 13,371,13,363,and 13,363records,respectively,with each

recordcontaining7,020bytes.Thefirst recordin thefirst imageryfile istheheaderecord,followed

by 13,370imagerecordsfor atotalof 1,910linesof thescenefor all sevenbands(1910linesx 7

bands= 13370records).Thesecondtwo imageryfileseachcontain13,363imagerecordsfor atotal

of 1,909linesof thescenefor all sevenbands(1909linesx 7bands= 13370records).In aBIL image

file, thefirst sevenimagerecordsareline 1,bands1-7,respectively;thenextsevenimagerecordsare

line 2, bands1-7,respectively;andsoon.Eachimagerecordcontains32bytesof prefix data,6,920

bytesof imagedata,and68bytesof suffix data(32+ 6920+ 68= 7020).

Eachimageis orientedsothatpixel 1,line 1is in theupperleft-hand(i.e.,northwest)comerof the

screendisplay.Pixelsandlinesprogressleft to right andtoptobottomsothatpixeln, line n is in the

lowerright-handcomer.

8.2.2.3 BIL Trailer File

See BSQ trailer file.

9. Data Manipulations

9.1 Formulae

None.

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

Not applicable.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff processed a level-3s Landsat TM image by:

• Extracting pertinent header information from the level-3s image product and writing it to a

disk file.

• Reading the information in the disk file and loading the online data base with needed

information.

Some cloud cover and image quality assessment information is generated when BORIS processes the

level-3s images to level-3a products. This information is entered into the BORIS data base but is not

included with the images on tape. To obtain this information, see Section 15.1.

9.2.2 Processing Changes

None.

9.3 Calculations

9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments

None.

9.3.2 Calculated Variables

None.

9.4 Graphs and Plots

None.

Page 16
10. Errors

10.1 Sources of Error

Errors could arise in the acquired imagery from location inaccuracy, distortion of lengths,

anisomorphism, the instrument's local coherence, and multispectral registrability. Other errors could

arise from inherent radiometric imperfections of the sensors.

10.2 Quality Assessment

10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

Whatever the processing level, the geometric quality of the image depends on the accuracy of the

viewing geometry. Spectral errors could arise from image-wide signal-to-noise ratio, saturation,

cross-talk, spikes, and response normalization due to change in gain.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

Assessment of accuracy of the absolute radiometric constants is difficult. The uncertainties in

prelaunch and postlaunch updates of the absolute calibration constants are nominally specified to be

less than 10%. A root mean square (rms) summing of known errors in the prelaunch calibration

suggests that this may be a reasonable estimate of overall uncertainty in the prelaunch calibration.

There are also known, but as yet uncorrected, effects associated with temperature-dependence of

the TM internal calibrator that may be contributing to apparent discontinuous changes at launch and to

the continuous changes of gain while in orbit. Additional uncertainties for exoatmospheric reflectances

are probably less than 2% in the visible/near-infrared and less than 5% in the shortwave infrared

portion of the spectrum as judged by the current differences in estimates of the solar irradiance.

The level-3s Landsat TM imagery has had geometric corrections applied so that the spatial

resolution for all pixels is 30 m in all bands. The level-3s imagery has a high level of internal spatial

integrity, but the geographic coordinate information contained on the tape can be offset from the actual

positions by as much as 20 kin.

10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters

None given.

10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments

The reproducibility of ground measurements at White Sands, NM, at times of Landsat TM

overpass to about 5% for five dates for bands 1-4 suggests a potential for monitoring sensor change

for the whole system with time. Images are screened for level of cloud cover before BORIS

processing.

10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center

BORIS staff used developed software to extract information for logging the data into a relational

data base. In addition, the software read through the records of the files checking for proper record

sizes.

11. Notes

11.1 Limitations of the Data

To date, no discrepancies/problems have been noted in the data.

11.2 Known Problems with the Data

To date, the following discrepancies/problems have been noted in the data:

• Some header files refer to Level-iS rather than Level-3S or to L1S rather than L3S since they

were created by software prior to BORIS finalization of data categories..

Page 17
11.3 Usage Guidance

None.

11.4 Other Relevant Information

None.

12. Application of the Data Set

The level-3s Landsat TM images are useful for anyone interested in high spatial resolution imagery

over the entire NSA or SSA.

None.

13. Future Modifications and Plans

14. Software

14.1 Software Description

BORIS staff developed software and command procedures for:

• Extracting header information from level-3s Landsat TM images on tape and writing to ASCII

files on disk.

• Reading the ASCII disk file and logging the level-3 Landsat TM image products into the

Oracle data base tables.

• Converting coordinates in the leader file(s) between the geographic systems of (latitude,

longitude), UTM (northing, easting), and BOREAS (x,y) grid locations.

The software mentioned under items 1 and 2 is written in the C language and is operational on VAX

6410 and MicroVAX 3100 systems at GSFC. The primary dependencies in the software are the tape

I/O library and the Oracle data base utility routines.

The geographic coordinate conversion utility (BOR_CORD) has been tested and used on

Macintosh, IBM PC, VAX, Silicon Graphics, and Sun workstations.

14.2 Software Access

All of the described software is available upon request. BORIS staff would appreciate knowing of

any problems discovered with the software, but cannot promise to fix them.

15. Data Access

The level-3s Landsat TM images are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information

System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center

(DAAC).

Page 18
15.1 Contact Information

For BOREAS data and documentation please contact:

ORNL DAAC User Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box 2008 MS-6407

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6407

Phone: (423) 241-3952

Fax: (423) 574-4665

E-mail: ornldaac@ornl.gov or ornl@eos.nasa.gov

15.2 Data Center Identification

Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics

http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/.

15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data

Although the BOREAS level-3s Landsat TM images are being held in a public archive, copyright

restrictions limit the distribution and use of the data. The BOREAS CD-ROM series is publicly

available and contains some of the level-3a Landsat TM images. However, other Landsat TM image

products in the collection are available only to official BOREAS project personnel. Please contact the

ORNL DAAC User Services office to get the most recent information.

Users may obtain information about the data directly through the ORNL DAAC online search and

order system [http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/] and the anonymous FTP site

[ftp://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/data/] or by contacting User Services by electronic mail, telephone, fax,

letter, or personal visit using the contact information in Section 15.1.

15.4 Data Center Status/Plans

The ORNL DAAC is the primary source for BOREAS field measurement, image, GIS, and

hardcopy data products. The BOREAS CD-ROM and data referenced or listed in inventories on the

CD-ROM are available from the ORNL DAAC.

16. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

The Landsat TM level-3s data can be made available on 8 ram, Digital Archive Tape (DAT), or

9-track tapes at 1600 or 6250 Bytes Per Inch (BPI).

Although the BOREAS level-3s Landsat TM images are being held in a public archive, copyright

restrictions limit the distribution and use of the data. The BOREAS CD-ROM series is publicly

available and contains some of the level-3a Landsat TM images. However, other Landsat TM image

products in the collection are available only to official BOREAS project personnel. Please contact the

ORNL DAAC User Services office (see Section 15.1) to get the most recent information.

16.2 Film Products

None.

16.3 Other Products

Although the image inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-3s

Landsat TM images are not. See Section 15 for information about how to obtain the data.

Page 19
17. References

17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation

Multispectral Scanner System for ERTS. 1972. HS324-5214. Hughes Aircraft Corporation. Santa

Barbara, CA.

Standard Landsat 4, 5 and 6 TM CCT Format Specification, DMD-TM #82-249E. 1991. Canada

Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), Surveys, Mapping and Remote Sensing Sector, Energy, Mines

and Resources, Canada.

User's Guide for Landsat Thematic Mapper Computer-Compatible Tapes. 1985. Earth Observation

Satellite Company. Lanham, MD.

17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports

Byrne, G.F., P.F. Crapper, and K.K. Mayo. 1980. Monitoring land-cover change by principal

component analysis of multitemporal Landsat data. Remote Sens. Environ. 10:175-184.

Chavez, P.C., S.C. Guptill, and J.A. Bowell. 1984. Image processing techniques for Thematic

Mapper data. Technical Papers. 50th Annual Meeting of the Amer. Soc. of Photogr. 2:728-743.

Crist, E.P. and R.C. Cicone. 1984. Application of the Tasseled Cap concept to simulated Thematic

Mapper data. Photogr. Engr. & Rein. Sens. 50:343-352.

Engel, J.L. and O. Weinstein. 1983. The Thematic Mapper: An Overview. IEEE Transactions on

Geoscience and Remote Sensing. GE-21:258-265.

Friedel, J. 1992. System description of the Geocoded Image Correction System. Report

GC-MA-50-3915, MacDonald Detwiller and Associates, Richmond, B.C.

Holmes, R.A. 1984. Advanced sensor systems: Thematic Mapper and beyond. Remote Sens.

Environ. 15:213-221.

Kanemasu, E.T., J.L. Heilman, J.O. Bagley, and W.L. Powers. 1977. Using Landsat data to

estimate evapotranspiration of winter wheat. Environmental Management. 1:515-520.

Lulla, K. 1983. The Landsat satellites and selected aspects of Physical Geography. Progress in Phy.

Geogr. 7:1-45.

Malila, W.A. 1985. Comparison of the Information Contents of Landsat TM and MSS Data.

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 51:1449-1457.

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J. Nickeson,

A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. 2000. Collected Data of The

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. NASA. CD-ROM.

Pollock, R.B. and E.T. Kanemasu. 1979. Estimating leaf-area index of wheat with Landsat data.

Remote Sens. Environ. 8:307-312.

Robinov, C.J. 1982. Computation with physical values from Landsat digital data. Photogr. Engr. &

Rein. Sens. 48:781-784.

Salomonson, V.V. 1984. Landsat 4 and 5 status and results from Thematic Mapper data analysis.

Proceedings. Machine Processing of Remotely Sensed Data Symposium. Lab. for the Applications of

Remote Sensing. West Lafayette, IN. p 13-18.

Page 20
Satterwhite,M.B. 1984.DiscriminatingvegetationandsoilsusingLandsatMSSandThematicMapper

bandsandbandratios.TechnicalPapers.50thAnnualMeetingof theAmer.Soc.of Photogr.

2:479-485.

Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1994.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1994-3.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 94).

Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1996-2.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1994

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC94).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1997.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1996

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, H. Margolis,B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi,G. denHartog,J.Cihlar, M.G. Ryan,B.

Goodison,P.Crill, K.J.Ranson,D. Lettenmaier,andD.E. Wickland. 1995.Theboreal

ecosystem-atmospherestudy(BOREAS):anoverviewandearlyresultsfrom the1994field year.

Bulletinof theAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.76(9):1549-1577.

Sellers,P.J.,F.G.Hall, R.D.Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi,J. Berry, M. Ryan,K.J. Ranson,P.M.

Crill, D.P.Lettenmaier,H. Margolis,J.Cihlar, J.Newcomer,D. Fitzjarrald,P.G.Jarvis,S.T.

Gower,D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison,D.E.Wickland, andF.E.Guertin.1997.BOREAS

in 1997:ExperimentOverview,ScientificResultsandFutureDirections.Journalof Geophysical

Research102(D24):28,731-28,770.

Singh,A.N. andR.S.Dwived. 1986.TheUtility of LandsatImageryasanIntegralPartof theData

Basefor SmallScaleSoil Mapping.Int. J.RemoteSensing.7:1099-1108.

Taranik,J.V. 1978.Characteristicsof theLandsatMultispectralDataSystem.U.S.Dept.of the

Interior.OpenFile Report78-187.SiouxFalls,SD.

Thompson,D.R.,andO.A. Wehmanen.1980.UsingLandsatdigitaldatato detectmoisturestressin

corn-soybeangrowingregion.Photogr.Engr.& Rein.Sens.46:1082-1089.

Williams, D.L., J.R.Irons,B.L. Markham,R.F. Nelson,D.L. Toll, R.S.Latty, andM.L. Stauffer.

1984.A statisticalevaluationof theadvantagesof LandsatThematicMapperdatain comparisonto

Multi-spectralScannerdata.IEEETransactionsonGeoscienceandRemoteSensing.GE-22.

17.3 Arehive/DBMS Usage Documentation

None.

None.

18. Glossary of Terms

Page 21
ASCII

BIL

BOREAS

BORIS

BPI

BSQ

CCRS

CCT

CD-ROM

DAAC

DAT

DN

EDC

EOS

EOSDIS

EROS

ERTS

FOLD

FOV

FPAR

GICS

GIS

GMT

GPS

GSFC

IFOV

I/O

LAI

LGSOWG

LTWG

MSS

NAD27

NAD83

NASA

NE

NSA

ORNL

PANP

rms

SBRC

SSA

TIPS

TM

URL

UTM

19. List of Acronyms

- American Standard Code for Information Interchange

- Band Interleaved by Line

- BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

- BOREAS Information System

- Bytes Per Inch

- Band sequential

- Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

- Computer-Compatible Tape

- Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

- Distributed Active Archive Center

- Digital Archive Tape

- Digital Number

- EROS Data Center

- Earth Observing System

- EOS Data and Information System

- Earth Resources Observation System

- Earth Resources Technology Satellite

- Federally Owned Landsat Database

- Field of View

- Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation

- Geocoded Image Correction System

- Geographic Information System

- Greenwich Mean Time

- Global Positioning System

- Goddard Space Flight Center

- Instantaneous Field-of-View

- Input/Output

- Leaf Area Index

- Landsat Ground Station Operations Working Group

- LGSOWG Technical Working Group

- Multispectral Scanner

- North American Datum of 1927

- North American Datum of 1983

- National Aeronautics and Space Administration

- Noise Equivalent

- Northern Study Area

- Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Prince Albert National Park

- root-mean-square

- Santa Barbara Research Center

- Southern Study Area

- Thematic Mapper Image Processing System

- Thematic Mapper

- Uniform Resource Locator

- Universal Transverse Mercator

Page 22
20. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Date

Written: 12-Apr- 1995

Last Updated: 14-May- 1999

20.2 Document Review Dates

BORIS Review: 20-Feb- 1998

Science Review: 27-Feb- 1998

20.3 Document ID

20.4 Citation

When using these data, please include the following acknowledgment as well as citations of

relevant papers in Section 17.2:

The Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) level-3s images were acquired by Canada Centre for Remote

Sensing (CCRS) and processed by Radarsat International (RSI) under an agreement with CCRS.

If using data from the BOREAS CD-ROM series, also reference the data as:

BOREAS Staff Science, "BOREAS Staff Science Satellite Data Acquisition Program." In Collected

Data of The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. Eds. J. Newcomer, D. Landis, S. Conrad, S.

Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J. Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T.

Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

Also, cite the BOREAS CD-ROM set as:

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J.

Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. Collected Data of

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. NASA. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

20.5 Document Curator

20.6 Document URL

Page 23
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE FormApproved

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of informationis estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

September 2000 Technical Memorandum

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Technical Report Series on the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

BOREAS Level-3s Landsat TM hnagery: Scaled At-sensor Radiance in 923 LGSOWG Format

6. AUTHOR(S) RTOP: 923-462-33-01

Jaime Nickeson, David Knapp, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, and Josef Cihlar

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546-0001

8. PEFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

2000-03136-0

10. SPONSORING / MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

TM--2000-209891

Vol. 99

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

J. Nickeson, D. Knapp, and J. A. Newcomer: Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,

Greenbelt, Maryland; J. Cihlar, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Unclassifie_Unlimited

Subject Category: 43

Report available from the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information,

7121 Standard Drive, Hanover, MD 21076-1320. (301) 621-0390.

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

For BOREAS, the level-3s Landsat TM data, along with the other remotely sensed images, were

collected in order to provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. This information includes radiant energy, detailed land cover, and biophysical parameter maps such as FPAR

and LAI. CCRS collected and supplied the level-3s images to BOREAS for use in the remote sensing

research activities. Geographically, the bulk of the level-3s images cover the BOREAS NSA and SSA

with a few images covering the area between the NSA and SSA. Temporally, the images cover the

period of 22-Jun-1984 to 30-Ju1-1996. The images are available in binary, image-format files.

14. SUBJECT TERMS

BOREAS, remote sensing science, Landsat TM data.

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF REPORT

Unclassified

NSN 7540-01-280-5500

18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF THIS PAGE

Unclassified

19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified

15. NUMBER OF PAGES

23

16. PRICE CODE

20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

UL

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18

298-102