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Simulating the response of the EOS Terra ASTER sensor to high‐temperature volcanic targets
Author(s) -
Wright Robert,
Rothery David A.,
Blake Stephen,
Harris Andrew J. L.,
Pieri David C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl900360
Subject(s) - advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer , radiance , remote sensing , thematic mapper , radiometry , volcano , radiometer , environmental science , thermal infrared , geology , advanced very high resolution radiometer , infrared , fumarole , satellite , satellite imagery , optics , physics , seismology , digital elevation model , astronomy
Infrared satellite data provide information regarding the thermal state and nature of activity at active volcanoes. Such radiometry has been hampered, however, by the tendency of many currently operational sensors to saturate over high‐radiance targets. Here the simulated response of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) to high‐temperature volcanic features is presented and compared to that of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), which has provided the bulk of useful data since the mid 1980's. We find that ASTER's improved spectral resolution and increased dynamic range will markedly reduce the problem of sensor saturation common in TM‐based studies, thus providing valuable data previously unavailable. Saturation will still occur however, when the fractional area of high‐temperature (∼1000°C) material approaches ∼1% (∼9 m²) of ASTER's 30‐m short‐wave infrared pixels.