In-orbit radiometric calibration of the FORMOSAT-2 remote sensing instrument

This principle focus of this study is the absolute radiometric calibrations of FORMOSAT-2 RSI imagery in orbit. There are two principal parts for achieving this calibration. The first is the assessment of the calibration site by examining atmospheric observations from ground stations and field measurements via ground-based radiometric instruments. After careful consideration based on the essential requirements for a suitable calibration site i.e., prevailing clear and clean atmosphere conditions over a wide, flat and near lambertian surface with high reflectance, the airport on Dongsha Island was considered to be an suitable site. The next phase is to design a scheme for the field campaign at the calibration site for radiometric calibration. Thus a synchronous experiment acquiring simultaneous measurements from the FORMOSAT-2 Remote Sensing Instrument (RSI) sensor and ground-based instruments was proposed and implemented for the period 16 to 19 September 2004. As a result, a set of reasonable radiometric coefficients for the absolute radiance calibration of the RSI was successfully constructed via the radiative transfer code associated with the synchronous measurements in this study.