Extension of retrospective datasets using multiple sensors. An approach to radiometric intercalibration of Landsat TM and MSS data

A methodology has been developed, tested and validated to radiometrically intercalibrate different sensor systems based on the precondition of simultaneous image acquisition, which is for example provided by the Landsat TM and MSS sensor systems hosted on Landsat 5. Different interpolation and processing steps within the procedure have been analyzed, and an intercalibration scheme is proposed to derive Landsat MSS calibration factors from Landsat TM, which is used as a calibrated reference. It supports a full radiometric rectification of Landsat MSS data and enables their incorporation into satellite image time series, which can thus be significantly extended by a maximum of 12 years.