Estimating fractional snow cover from MODIS using the normalized difference snow index

Snow-cover information is important for a wide variety of scientific studies, water supply and management applications. The NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides improved capabilities to observe snow cover from space and has been successfully using a normalized difference snow index (NDSI), along with threshold tests, to provide global, automated binary maps of snow cover. The NDSI is a spectral band ratio that takes advantage of the spectral differences of snow in short-wave infrared and visible MODIS spectral bands to identify snow versus other features in a scene. This study has evaluated whether there is a “signal” in the NDSI that could be used to estimate the fraction of snow within a 500 m MODIS pixel and thereby enhance the use of the NDSI approach in monitoring snow cover. Using Landsat 30-m observations as “ground truth,” the percentage of snow cover was calculated for 500-m cells. Then a regression relationship between 500-m NDSI observations and fractional snow cover was developed over three different snow-covered regions and tested over other areas. The overall results indicate that the relationship between fractional snow cover and NDSI is reasonably robust when applied locally and over large areas like North America. The relationship offers advantages relative to other published fractional snow cover algorithms developed for global-scale use with MODIS. This study indicates that the fraction of snow cover within a MODIS pixel using this approach can be provided with a mean absolute error less than 0.1 over the range from 0.0 to 1.0 in fractional snow cover.     

Comparison of methods of snow cover mapping by analysing the solar spectrum of satellite remote sensing data in China

Three methods, supervised classification (SC), digital number (DN) statistics and Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), are used to map snow cover and then calculate snow cover area. Data sets from Landsat TM, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and NOAA/AVHRR are selected because these sensors of different spatial resolution provide the most up to date remote sensing data for China. The results show that the best method for obtaining the snow index is different for each of these sensor products because of their different spatial and temporal resolutions and objectives of application. Reflectivity threshold statistics (RTs) should be used if the data series is incomplete; whereas SC needs a relatively accurate signature file for classification. A valid and rational method has been certified which selects NDSI for extracting snow pixels. Meanwhile, we introduce the brightness compensation method for decreasing the impact of topographic shading on distinguishing of snow pixels.     

卫星遥感雪盖制图方法对比与分析

利用ＬａｎｄｓａｔＴＭ、ＮＯＡＡ／ＡＶＨＲＲ和中分辨率成像光谱仪（ＭＯＤＩＳ）三个平台传感器的遥感数据,分别使用训练样本监督分类、阈值数字信号统计、雪盖指数方法制作雪盖图和提取积雪面积。结果表明：不同传感器遥感图像因时相和时空分辨率的差异,提取积雪信息的有效方法有所不同。但基于反射特性的雪盖指数计算法具有普遍的实际操作性意义,即雪盖制图精度高,分类合理,是提取积雪信息的最佳技术手段;当使用监督积雪分类时,只有取得精确的信号文件,分类结果才是可信的;而阈值数字信号统计的雪的阈值确定具有很大的经验性和随机性,但对数据不完整或只有单波段时也不失为有效和简便的途径;山影补偿处理法基本可以消除地形阴影的影响;而去云后其覆盖下的积雪恢复技术值得进一步讨论。     

东北地区MODIS亚像元积雪覆盖率反演及验证

以中巴资源卫星数据作为地面“真值”影像,根据东北地区地理环境与气候特点对Salomoson亚像元积雪覆盖率模型参数进行修正,反演东北地区MODIS像元积雪覆盖率,并用不同方案对模型的稳定性和精度进行分析。研究结果表明,经修正后的Salomoson亚像元积雪覆盖率反演模型对不同地貌--景观单元具有稳定性,其中较小的波动源于积雪物理性质差异、大气效应、积雪影像分类误差及影像配准误差。在东北平原区,NDSI值在0.52~0.65时,模型反演精度高,但反演雪盖率总体偏低,主要是由NDSI基于对波段反射率的非线性转换引起的;雪盖率高估的像元主要分布在城区外围以及农村居民点,而覆盖城区、乡、镇以及居民点之间道路的像元雪盖率误差小,其原因是人类活动频率影响像元内积雪组分与非积雪组分的光谱特性的差异程度。与MODIS雪产品进行对比分析,积雪覆盖率提供较传统雪盖制图更加丰富的信息,然而对林区冠层下积雪覆盖二者均未给出准确估计。     

卫星遥感雪盖制图方法对比与分析

利用ＬａｎｄｓａｔＴＭ、ＮＯＡＡ／ＡＶＨＲＲ和中分辨率成像光谱仪（ＭＯＤＩＳ）三个平台传感器的遥感数据,分别使用训练样本监督分类、阈值数字信号统计、雪盖指数方法制作雪盖图和提取积雪面积。结果表明：不同传感器遥感图像因时相和时空分辨率的差异,提取积雪信息的有效方法有所不同。但基于反射特性的雪盖指数计算法具有普遍的实际操作性意义,即雪盖制图精度高,分类合理,是提取积雪信息的最佳技术手段|当使用监督积雪分类时,只有取得精确的信号文件,分类结果才是可信的|而阈值数字信号统计的雪的阈值确定具有很大的经验性和随机性,但对数据不完整或只有单波段时也不失为有效和简便的途径|山影补偿处理法基本可以消除地形阴影的影响|而去云后其覆盖下的积雪恢复技术值得进一步讨论。     

A new water-resistant snow index for the detection and mapping of snow cover on a global scale

An up-to-date spatio-temporal change analysis of global snow cover is essential for better understanding of climate–hydrological interactions. The normalized difference snow index (NDSI) is a widely used algorithm for the detection and estimation of snow cover. However, NDSI cannot discriminate between snow cover and water bodies without use of an external water mask. A stand-alone methodology for robust detection and mapping of global snow cover is presented by avoiding external dependency on the water mask. A new spectral index called water-resistant snow index (WSI) with the capability of exhibiting significant contrast between snow cover and other cover types, including water bodies, was developed. WSI uses the normalized difference between the value and hue obtained by transforming red, green, and blue, (RGB) colour composite images comprising red, green, and near-infrared bands into a hue, saturation, and value (HSV) colour model. The superiority of WSI over NDSI is confirmed by case studies conducted in major snow regions globally. Snow cover was mapped by considering monthly variation in snow cover and availability of satellite data at the global scale. A snow cover map for the year 2013 was produced at the global scale by applying the random walker algorithm in the WSI image supported by the reference data collected from permanent snow-covered and non-snow-covered areas. The resultant snow-cover map was compared to snow cover estimated by existing maps: MODIS Land Cover Type Product (MCD12Q1 v5.1, 2012), Global Land Cover by National Mapping Organizations (GLCNMO v2.0, 2008), and European Space Agency’s GlobCover 2009. A significant variation in snow cover as estimated by different maps was noted, and was was attributed to methodological differences rather than annual variation in snow cover. The resultant map was also validated with reference data, with 89.46% overall accuracy obtained. The WSI proposed in the research is expected to be suitable for seasonal and annual change analysis of global snow cover.     

雪盖指数法提取积雪范围信息的不确定性研究-以玛纳斯上游地区为例

基于2006年9月10日空间分辨率为30 m的TM影像与DEM数据,通过雪盖指数法自动提取积雪范围与目视解译结果进行对比,以粗糙度为度量,定性、定量分析影响其不确定性的地表覆被和地形因素。结果表明:①当NDSI阈值取0.57~0.72和0.4~0.8时,结果有明显差异,取0.57~0.72时漏分像元比0.4~0.8稍多,但是误分像元大幅减少;②同处于阴影区裸地的光谱曲线与积雪的光谱曲线相似,造成阴影区的积雪与裸地不能正确区分,此外处于阴影区域的植被由于反射率较低,使其NDSI刚好在阈值范围内,被误分为积雪;③半阴坡雪盖指数法提取积雪的不确定性最小,而阳坡、半阳坡雪盖指数法提取积雪的不确定性最大;④雪盖指数法提取积雪的不确定性随着坡度的增加呈下降趋势,即坡度越大不确定性越小。     

新疆玛纳斯河流域卫星雪盖信息提取的影响因素分析

卫星雪盖信息的准确提取受到很多因素的影响,本文选用11幅玛纳斯河流域Landsat ETM＋影像,应用归一化差值积雪指数NDSI区分积雪与其他地物,分析传感器增益、大气因素、地形效应对雪盖信息提取造成影响的原因,并定量计算各因素影响程度的大小。研究结果表明,成像过程传感器高低增益对卫星雪盖信息提取的影响非常大,大气因素的影响相对较小,NDSI对地形不具有适应性,尤其在阴影区进行积雪判读不适用。     

遥感技术在现代冰川变化研究中的应用

传统的现代冰川变化研究主要以实地观测和经验公式来获得冰川的面积变化、体积变化和冰川表面运动速度,从20世纪80年代以来随着航空遥感光学图像、数字高程模型、雷达等新技术数据的不断出现和发展,借助遥感手段研究冰川的性质和特征、监测冰川的动态变化成为冰川学研究发展的重要趋势,也有效解决了现代冰川研究中高山区资料受限等问题。冰川面积变化的计算机自动解译方法主要有阈值法和雪盖指数阈值法、监督分类非监督分类法、比值阈值法等。阈值法和雪盖指数阈值法操作简单,但是在阈值选取方面不好把握;非监督分类法操作简单但限制因素较多;如果训练区选择准确,监督分类法分类结果比较精确;波段比值阈值法操作相对简单,精度准确,是目前运用最多的计算机自动分类方法。数字高程模型和雷达数据在冰川体积变化研究中的应用,较好地提高了传统方法的精度和适用性; 而且雷达数据具有不受大气传播和气候影响的特点,很好地弥补了遥感光学影像数据极易受云雪等影响的不足。高精度GPS和雷达数据的不断发展和应用在冰川表面运动速度的研究中起着不可替代的作用。      

提高森林覆盖区积雪提取精度的方法研究——以玛纳斯河流域为例

森林覆盖区积雪的提取精度很低,由于植被冠层的遮挡,冠层下的积雪很难被提取出来。基于Landsat 8OLI数据,针对玛纳斯河流域下游有大面积森林覆盖的特点,通过传统的积雪指数法,结合NDVI数据的积雪指数法和面向对象图像特征法分别提取积雪面积。结果表明:1传统的NDSI和S3积雪指数法无法较好地提取出森林覆盖下的积雪,提取精度分别为85.23%和87.54%。这两种方法适用于空间尺度较大、植被覆盖面积较大的区域,并不适合所选研究区;2结合NDVI数据后的NDSI、S3积雪指数模型能大大提高森林覆盖下的积雪面积,提取精度分别达到91.47%和90.60%。在影像空间分辨率较高,流域尺度较小,林区覆盖较多的情况下可采用此方法提取积雪;3随着海拔的升高,地形阴影影响逐渐增大,NDVI辅助积雪指数方法提取林区覆盖下积雪面积逐渐减小。因此采用光谱、纹理和空间信息结合的面向对象图像特征方法提取积雪,能够较好地识别出受地形影响下的雪像元,精度达到89.75%,可以满足实际应用的需求。     

View angle effects on MODIS snow mapping in forests

Binary snow maps and fractional snow cover data are provided routinely from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). This paper investigates how the wide observation angles of MODIS influence the current snow mapping algorithm in forested areas. Theoretical modeling results indicate that large view zenith angles (VZA) can lead to underestimation of fractional snow cover (FSC) by reducing the amount of the ground surface that is viewable through forest canopies, and by increasing uncertainties during the gridding of MODIS data. At the end of the MODIS scan line, the total modeled error can be as much as 50% for FSC. Empirical analysis of MODIS/Terra snow products in four forest sites shows high fluctuation in FSC estimates on consecutive days. In addition, the normalized difference snow index (NDSI) values, which are the primary input to the MODIS snow mapping algorithms, decrease as VZA increases at the site level. At the pixel level, NDSI values have higher variances, and are correlated with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in snow covered forests. These findings are consistent with our modeled results, and imply that consideration of view angle effects could improve MODIS snow monitoring in forested areas.     

Retrieval of sub-pixel snow cover information in the Himalayan region using medium and coarse resolution remote sensing data

Numerous constrained and unconstrained algorithms have been used to retrieve sub-pixel snow-cover information quantitatively using medium and coarse spatial resolution multispectral images from the Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) sensors over the Himalayan region. Both the methods give slow convergence rates and inaccurate estimation of sub-pixel components analysed using root mean square (RMS) error and image deviation. Multiplicative iterative algorithms such as the Expectation Maximization Maximum Likelihood Method (EMML) and the Image Space Reconstruction Algorithm (ISRA) based on the minimization of least squares and Kullback–Leibler distances have been attempted to compute the endmembers' abundances in unmixing of satellite data. In this paper we discuss the eigenvalues of minimum noise fraction (MNF) transformation bands, data noise removal using MNF transformation and selection of pure endmembers using satellite images. The normalized difference snow index (NDSI) is also estimated using field spectral reflectance results and satellite images in green and shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelength regions in order to carry out a comparative analysis for its variations with sub-pixel snow cover fractions. The present analysis shows the advantage of iterative over direct (constrained and unconstrained) methods; constraints are easily handled and allow better regularization of the solution for the ill-conditioned cases. Iterative methods are found to be faster compared to those of direct methods and can be used operationally for all resolution data for accurate estimation of sub-pixel snow cover.     

Mapping dry/wet snow cover in the Indian Himalayas using IRS multispectral imagery

Application of remote sensing data has been made to differentiate between dry/wet snows in a glacierized basin. The present study has been carried out in the Gangotri glacier, Himalayas, using IRS-LISS-III multispectral data for the period March-November 2000 and the digital elevation model. The methodology involves conversion of satellite sensor data into reflectance values, computation of NDSI, determination of the boundary between dry/wet snows from spectral response data, and threshold slicing of the image data. The areas of dry snow cover and wet snow cover for different dates of satellite overpasses have been computed. The dry snow area has been compared with non-melting area obtained from the temperature lapse rate method, and the two are found to be in close mutual correspondence (< 15%). It is observed that there occur four water-bearing zones in the glacierized basin: dry snow zone, wet snow zone, exposed glacial ice and moraine-covered glacial ice, each of which possesses unique hydrological characteristics and can be distinguished and mapped from satellite sensor data. It is suggested that input of data on the position and extent of specifically wet snow and exposed glacial ice, which can be directly derived from remote sensing, should improve hydrological simulation of such basins.     

Fractional snow cover mapping through artificial neural network analysis of MODIS surface reflectance

Accurate areal measurements of snow cover extent are important for hydrological and climate modeling. The traditional method of mapping snow cover is binary where a pixel is considered either snow-covered or snow-free. Fractional snow cover (FSC) mapping can achieve a more precise estimate of areal snow cover extent by estimating the fraction of a pixel that is snow-covered. The most common snow fraction methods applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images have been spectral unmixing and an empirical Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). Machine learning is an alternative for estimating FSC as artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been successfully used for estimating the subpixel abundances of other surfaces. The advantages of ANNs are that they can easily incorporate auxiliary information such as land cover type and are capable of learning nonlinear relationships between surface reflectance and snow fraction. ANNs are especially applicable to mapping snow cover extent in forested areas where spatial mixing of surface components is nonlinear. This study developed a multilayer feed-forward ANN trained through backpropagation to estimate FSC using MODIS surface reflectance, NDSI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and land cover as inputs. The ANN was trained and validated with higher spatial-resolution FSC maps derived from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) binary snow cover maps. Testing of the network was accomplished over training and independent test areas. The developed network performed adequately with RMSE of 12% over training areas and slightly less accurately over the independent test scenes with RMSE of 14%. The developed ANN also compared favorably to the standard MODIS FSC product. The study also presents a comprehensive validation of the standard MODIS snow fraction product whose performance was found to be similar to that of the ANN.     

Evaluation of a useful method to identify snow‐covered areas under vegetation – comparisons among a newly proposed snow index,normalized difference snow index,and visible reflectance

Objective methods of monitoring snow‐covered areas by optical remote sensing were evaluated using synchronous observations conducted with the passage of the Landsat‐7 satellite over the plains of Niigata prefecture, one of the snowiest regions in Japan. The observations were conducted in the springs of 2002 and 2003. Snow‐covered areas were identified using three methods: (1) visible (red) reflectance, (2) Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) which uses visible and shortwave‐infrared reflectances, and (3) a newly proposed snow index called S3 which uses visible, near‐infrared and shortwave‐infrared reflectances. The Snow‐Cover Ratio (SCR) was defined as the ratio of the number of pixels in snow‐covered areas to the total number of pixels in an image. The threshold value for the three indices used to identify snow‐covered areas was defined as 50% of SCR, which converged to nearly the same value regardless of the images analysed. Under clear conditions, visible (red) reflectance can identify snow‐covered areas accurately if no vegetation is present. NDSI can distinguish snow‐covered areas from mixels (mixed pixels) of snow and vegetation by referring to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). S3 can distinguish snow‐covered areas from mixels of snow and vegetation without any reference data. S3 is, therefore, more useful than NDSI because it automatically distinguishes snow‐covered areas from mixels of snow and vegetation.     

雪盖卫星遥感信息的提取方法探讨

着重论述了从卫星遥感资料中提取雪盖信息的一些方法,结果表明,利用积雪阈值参数从ＮＯＡＡ／ＡＶＨＲＲ图象中提取雪盖信息方法和利用积雪指数（ＮＤＳＩ）从陆地卫星ＴＭ图象中提取雪盖面积的技术,以及利用ＮＯＡＡ／ＡＶＨＲＲ和ＴＭ信息复合的技术,可提高信息获取的精度,具有实用价值。     

Satellite-derived snow coverage related to hydropower production in Norway: Present and future

Hydropower derived from snow-melt runoff is a major source of electricity in Norway. Therefore, amount of snow-melt runoff is key to the prediction of available water. The prediction of water quantity may be accomplished through the use of hydrological models. These models, which may be run for individual basins, use satellite-derived snow-covered area in combination with snow-cover depletion curves. While it is known that snow albedo information would increase the accuracy of the models, large-scale albedo measurements have not yet been obtained from satellites on a regular basis. This paper presents Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) reflectances recorded in May 1989 from a mountainous catchment at Kvikne, Norway. Satellite-derived albedo values are analysed, and compared with simultaneously measured in situ albedo. The satellite-derived shortwave snow albedo is comparable with bare ground albedo and values as low as 0.19 were found in areas where the snow was highly metamorphosed and heavily blackened by organic material. To map snow-covered areas, the contrast between snow and snow-free areas can be improved by using a normalized TM Band 2-5 difference image. While TM Band 2 alone shows varying degrees of snow surface contamination within the study area, the normalized difference snow index (NDSI) is not affected by impurities. This paper also discusses the use of NASA's EOS (Earth Observing System) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, which is planned to be launched in the summer of 1999 for mapping of large-scale geophysical parameters including snow-cover. MODIS will enable snow cover and albedo to be mapped in Norway on a daily basis, and should enhance our ability to estimate snow coverage and thus manage hydropower production.     

Monitoring snow-cover dynamics in Northern Fennoscandia with SPOT VEGETATION images

In order to monitor snow-cover dynamics in the Tana River Basin in Northern Fennoscandia, SPOT VEGETATION (VGT) images of the snowmelt seasons of 1998 and 1999 were used to identify snow-covered areas, employing an algorithm that was originally developed for data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This algorithm is based on the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), which usually is calculated from the green and mid-infrared bands. In the absence of a green band, the applicability of this algorithm to VGT data from the red and mid-infrared bands was tested by comparing NDSI values with a corresponding Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) image. The best agreement was found with slightly lower threshold values for the NDSI. Comparison of the snow-cover estimates also allowed testing of the performance of the NDSI-based algorithm in partially snow-free conditions. By applying the algorithm to ten-day syntheses of VGT images, the moment of snow disappearance could be registered for each 1×1?km pixel in the study area. The results were largely consistent with observations at meteorological stations in the area, confirming the effectiveness of VGT images and the algorithm employed in monitoring snow-cover depletion patterns.     

Automatic multi-thresholds selection for image segmentation based on evolutionary approach

Automatic thresholding has been widely used in machine vision for automatic image segmentation. Otsu’s method selects an optimum threshold by maximizing the between-class variance in a grayscale image. However, the method becomes time-consuming when extended to multi-level threshold problems, because excessive iterations are required in order to compute the cumulative probability and the mean of class. In this paper, we focus on the issue of automatic selection for multi-level thresholding, and we greatly improve the efficiency of Otsu’s method for image segmentation based on evolutionary approaches. We have investigated and evaluated the performance of the Otsu and Valleyemphasis thresholding methods. Based on our evaluation results, we have developed many different algorithms for automatic threshold selection based on the evolutionary method using the Modified Adaptive Genetic Algorithm and the Hill Climbing Algorithm. The experimental results show that the evolutionary approach achieves a satisfactory segmentation effect and that the processing time can be greatly reduced when the number of thresholds increases.     

Field-based spectral reflectance measurements of seasonal snow cover in the Indian Himalaya

In the present study, spectroradiometer (350–2500 nm) experiments are carried out in the field to understand the influence of snow grain size, contamination, moisture, ageing, snow depth, slope / aspect on spectral reflectance and to determine the sensitive wavelengths for mapping of snow and estimation of snow characteristics using satellite data. The observations suggest that, due to ageing and grain-size variation, the maximum variations in reflectance are observed in the near-infrared region, i.e. around 1040–1050 nm. For varying contamination and snow depth, the maximum variations are observed in the visible region, i.e. around 470 and 590 nm, respectively. For the moisture changes, the maximum variations are observed around 980 and 1160 nm. Based on the spectral signatures of seasonal snow, the normalized difference snow index (NDSI) is studied, and snow indexes, such as grain and contamination indexes, are proposed. The study also suggests that the NDSI increases with ageing, grain size and moisture content. The NDSI values remain constant with variations in slope and aspect. Attempts are made to estimate seasonal snow characteristics using multispectral Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) Indian Remote Sensing (IRS-P6) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite data and validated with snow-meteorological observatory data of the study area.