A Method for Compositing Polar MODIS Satellite Images to Remove Cloud Cover for Landfast Sea-Ice Detection

• Published in: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Fraser, AD, Massom, RA, Michael, KJ
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Ieee-Inst Electrical Electronics Engineers Inc 2009
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience; Glaciology; Antarctic; East Antarctica; Mertz Glacier; Antarc*; Antarctica; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.ieee.org; https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2009.2019726; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/61779

This paper presents details of techniques for generatingthermal infrared and visible composite images from thecloud-free portions of temporally closely spaced MODerate resolutionImaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images, with a focuson studies of landfast sea ice along the East Antarctic coast.Composite image inclusion criteria are based on modified MODISEarth Observing System cloud mask product results. The compositingprocess presented places emphasis on retaining maximumspatial resolution while minimizing storage space requirements.Composite images can be produced either as a regular product(e.g., on a ten-day grid), or dynamically (whenever enoughinformation is acquired to produce a new output image). Thetechniques presented are applicable at any latitude, are availablefor all MODIS channels at their native resolution, can combineAqua and Terra images, and can produce maps in any outputprojection. However, due to the polar orbit of NASAs Terra andAqua satellites which host the MODIS instrument, more frequentcoverage is produced at higher latitudes. Thus, the techniquespresented are particularly applicable to polar research. Examplesof composite image generation of the landfast sea ice aroundthe Mertz Glacier region, East Antarctica, are included for bothwinter and summer.