IMPROVEMENT OF AN ATMOSPHERIC CORRECTION 
ALGORITHM FOR REFLECTANCE IMAGES 
Leonardo Gonima 
CIPRES - Instituto Geogräfico Agustin Codazzi 
CRA, 30 - No. 48-51 
Santafé de Bogotá, D.C. Colombia 
ISPRS Commission VII / Working Group 1 
ABSTRACT 
A former atmospheric correction algorithm for reflectance images, including single scattering of solar 
radiation, was improved. The new algorithm, for a clear atmosphere, includes the effect of multiple scattering 
and the satellite's view angle. The method, based on a simplification of the radiative transfer equation, also 
calculates the atmospheric transmittance of the incident and reflected solar radiation. 
Ground truth data and the results obtained by application of the former algorithm were used for the validation 
of the present model. The results show that it can give useful calculated values of the spectral response of 
nearly homogeneous surfaces. Especially in extension and Isolated Regions, where no simultaneous 
atmospheric measurements were available. 
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