• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.34 no.6_1
• /
• pp.1025-1032
• /
• 2018

Snow Cover is a form of precipitation that is defined by snow on the surface and is the single largest component of the cryosphere that plays an important role in maintaining the energy balance between the earth's surface and the atmosphere. It affects the regulation of the Earth's surface temperature. However, since snow cover is mainly distributed in area where human access is difficult, snow cover detection using satellites is actively performed, and snow cover detection in forest area is an important process as well as distinguishing between cloud and snow. In this study, we applied the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to the geostationary satellites for the snow detection of forest area in existing polar orbit satellites. On the rest of the forest area, the snow cover detection using $R_{1.61{\mu}m}$ anomaly technique and NDSI was performed. As a result of the indirect validation using the snow cover data and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) snow cover data, the probability of detection (POD) was 99.95 % and the False Alarm Ratio (FAR) was 16.63 %. We also performed qualitative validation using the Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) RGB image. The result showed that the areas detected by the VIIRS Snow Cover miss pixel are mixed with the area detected by the research false pixel.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.625-638
• /
• 2018

In this paper, we derive i) a function to estimate snow cover fraction (SCF) from a MODIS satellite image that has a wide observational area and short re-visit period and ii) a function to determine snow depth from the estimated SCF map. The SCF equation is important for estimating the snow depth from optical images. The proposed SCF equation is defined using the Gaussian function. We found that the Gaussian function was a better model than the linear equation for explaining the relationship between the normalized difference snow index (NDSI) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and SCF. An accuracy test was performed using 38 MODIS images, and the achieved root mean square error (RMSE) was improved by approximately 7.7 % compared to that of the linear equation. After the SCF maps were created using the SCF equation from the MODIS images, a relation function between in-situ snow depth and MODIS-derived SCF was defined. The RMSE of the MODIS-derived snow depth was approximately 3.55 cm when compared to the in-situ data. This is a somewhat large error range in the Republic of Korea, which generally has less than 10 cm of snowfall. Therefore, in this study, we corrected the calculated snow depth using the relationship between the measured and calculated values for each single image unit. The corrected snow depth was finally recorded and had an RMSE of approximately 2.98 cm, which was an improvement. In future, the accuracy of the algorithm can be improved by considering more varied variables at the same time.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 2009

Snow cover is one of the important parameters since it determines surface energy balance and its variation. To classify snow and cloud from satellite data is very important process when inferring land surface information. Generally, misclassified cloud and snow pixel can lead directly to error factor for retrieval of surface products from satellite data. Therefore, in this study, we perform algorithm for detecting snow cover area with remote sensing data. We just utilize visible reflectance, and infrared channels rather than using NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) which is one of optimized methods to detect snow cover. Because COMS MI (Meteorological Imager) channels doesn't include near infra-red, which is used to produce NDSI. Detecting snow cover with visible channel is well performed over clear sky area, but it is difficult to discriminate snow cover from mixed cloudy pixels. To improve those detecting abilities, brightness temperature difference (BTD) between 11 and 3.7 is used for snow detection. BTD method shows improved results than using only visible channel.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.401-410
• /
• 2017

Estimation of snow depth using optical image is conducted by using correlation with Snow Cover Fraction (SCF). Various algorithms have been proposed for the estimation of snow cover fraction based on Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). In this study we tested linear, quadratic, and exponential equations for the generation of snow cover fraction maps using data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite in order to evaluate their applicability to the complex terrain of South Korea and to search for improvements to the estimation of snow depth on this landscape. The results were validated by comparison with in-situ snowfall data from weather stations, with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculated as 3.43, 2.37, and 3.99 cm for the linear, quadratic, and exponential approaches, respectively. Although quadratic results showed the best RMSE, this was due to the limitations of the data used in the study; there are few number of in-situ data recorded on the station at the time of image acquisition and even the data is mostly recorded on low snowfall. So, we conclude that linear-based algorithms are better suited for use in South Korea. However, in the case of using the linear equation, the SCF with a negative value can be calculated, so it should be corrected. Since the coefficients of the equation are not optimized for this area, further regression analysis is needed. In addition, if more variables such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land cover, etc. are considered, it could be possible that estimation of national-scale snow depth with higher accuracy.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.287-299
• /
• 2017

The Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) of Chile consists of many volcanoes, including the Mt.Villarrica and Mt.Llaima, and the two volcanoes are covered with snow at the top of Mountain. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the ice caps and the volcanic activity of the two volcanoes for 25 years by using the satellite image data are available in a time series. A total of 60 Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM + data were used for the study from September 1986 to February 2011. Using NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) algorithm and SRTM DEM, snow cover and snowline were extracted. Finally, the snow cover area, lower-snowline, and upper-snowline, which are quantitative indicators of snow cover change, were directly or indirectly affected by volcanic activity, were extracted from the satellite images. The results show that the volcanic activity of Villarrica volcano is more than 55% when the snow cover is less than 20 and the lower-snowline is 1,880 m in Llaima volcano. In addition, when the upper-snowline of the two volcanoes is below -170m, it can be confirmed that the volcano is differentiated with a probability of about 90%. Therefore, the changes in volcanic snowfall are closely correlated with volcanic activity, and it is possible to indirectly deduce volcanic activity by monitoring the snow.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.339-351
• /
• 2016

For the safety of sea, it is important to monitor sea fog, one of the dangerous meteorological phenomena which cause marine accidents. To detect and monitor sea fog, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data which is capable to provide spatial distribution of sea fog has been used. The previous automatic sea fog detection algorithms were focused on detecting sea fog using Terra/MODIS only. The improved algorithm is based on the sea fog detection algorithm by Wu and Li (2014) and it is applicable to both Terra and Aqua MODIS data. We have focused on detecting spring season sea fog events in the Yellow Sea. The algorithm includes application of cloud mask product, the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), the STandard Deviation test using infrared channel ($STD_{IR}$) with various window size, Temperature Difference Index(TDI) in the algorithm (BTCT - SST) and Normalized Water Vapor Index (NWVI). Through the calculation of the Hanssen-Kuiper Skill Score (KSS) using sea fog manual detection result, we derived more suitable threshold for each index. The adjusted threshold is expected to bring higher accuracy of sea fog detection for spring season daytime sea fog detection using MODIS in the Yellow Sea.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.409-420
• /
• 2012

Since the Industrial Revolution, CO2 levels have been increasing with climate change. In this study, Analyze time-series changes in snow cover quantitatively and predict the vanishing point of snow cover statistically using remote sensing. The study area is Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. 23 image data of Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM+, spanning the 27 years from June 1984 to July 2011, were acquired. For this study, first, atmospheric correction was performed on each image using the COST atmospheric correction model. Second, the snow cover area was extracted using the NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) algorithm. Third, the minimum height of snow cover was determined using SRTM DEM. Finally, the vanishing point of snow cover was predicted using the trend line of a linear function. Analysis was divided using a total of 23 images and 17 images during the dry season. Results show that snow cover area decreased by approximately $6.47km^2$ from $9.01km^2$ to $2.54km^2$, equivalent to a 73% reduction. The minimum height of snow cover increased by approximately 290 m, from 4,603 m to 4,893 m. Using the trend line result shows that the snow cover area decreased by approximately $0.342km^2$ in the dry season and $0.421km^2$ overall each year. In contrast, the annual increase in the minimum height of snow cover was approximately 9.848 m in the dry season and 11.251 m overall. Based on this analysis of vanishing point, there will be no snow cover 2020 at 95% confidence interval. This study can be used to monitor global climate change by providing the change in snow cover area and reference data when studying this area or similar areas in future research.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.341-350
• /
• 2014

Landsat images can monitor the snow-covered Earth surface variations with the ground resolution of 30m and the multi-spectral bands in the visible, NIR, SWIR and TIR spectral regions for the last 30 years. The Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) of Chile consists of many volcanoes, and all of the volcanoes are covered with snow at the top of mountain. Snow cover area in southern province of the SVZ of Chile (37 to $46^{\circ}S$) have been influenced by significant frontal retreats as well as eruptive activities. In this study, we have investigated the changes of the snow-cover area and snow-line elevation at Mt. Villarrica and Mt. Llaima, Chile from three Landsat images acquired on Feb. 1990, 2005 and 2011. The snow-cover areas are 13.42, 26.75 and $21.60km^2$ at Mt. Villarrica in 1990, 2005 and 2011, respectively, and 3.82, 25.12 and $8.89km^2$ at Mt. Llaima in 1990, 2005 and 2011, respectively. The snow-line elevations are 1871, 1738 and 1826m at Mt. Villarrica in 1990, 2005 and 2011, respectively, and 2007, 1822 and 1818m at Mt. Llaima in 1990, 2005 and 2011, respectively. The results indicate that both of the snow-cover and snow-line changes are strongly related with the volcanic activity change. The results demonstrate that the snow-cover area and snow-line elevation changes can be used as an indicator of the volcanic activity at Mt. Villarrica and Mt. Llaima, Chile.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.39 no.6_2
• /
• pp.1651-1669
• /
• 2023

Sea ice currently covers approximately 7% of the world's ocean area, primarily concentrated in polar and high-altitude regions, subject to seasonal and annual variations. It is very important to analyze the area and type classification of sea ice through time series monitoring because sea ice is formed in various types on a large spatial scale, and oil and gas exploration and other marine activities are rapidly increasing. Currently, research on the type and area of sea ice is being conducted based on high-resolution satellite images and field measurement data, but there is a limit to sea ice monitoring by acquiring field measurement data. High-resolution optical satellite images can visually detect and identify types of sea ice in a wide range and can compensate for gaps in sea ice monitoring using Geostationary Ocean Color Imager-II (GOCI-II), an ocean satellite with short time resolution. This study tried to find out the possibility of utilizing sea ice monitoring by training a rule-based machine learning model based on learning data produced using high-resolution optical satellite images and performing detection on GOCI-II images. Learning materials were extracted from Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea from 2021 to 2022, and a Random Forest (RF) model using GOCI-II was constructed to compare qualitative and quantitative with sea ice areas obtained from existing normalized difference snow index (NDSI) based and high-resolution satellite images. Unlike NDSI index-based results, which underestimated the sea ice area, this study detected relatively detailed sea ice areas and confirmed that sea ice can be classified by type, enabling sea ice monitoring. If the accuracy of the detection model is improved through the construction of continuous learning materials and influencing factors on sea ice formation in the future, it is expected that it can be used in the field of sea ice monitoring in high-altitude ocean areas.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2012

Remote sensing which observes repeatedly the whole Earth and GIS-based decision-making technology have been utilized widely in disaster management such as early warning monitoring, damage investigation, emergent rescue and response, rapid recovery etc. In addition, various countermeasures of national level to collect timely satellite imagery in emergency have been considered through the operation of a satellite with onboard multiple sensors as well as the practical joint use of satellite imagery by collaboration with space agencies of the world. In order to respond heavy snowfall disaster occurred on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula in February 2011, snow-covered regions were analyzed and detected in this study through NDSI(Normalized Difference Snow Index) considering reflectance of wavelength for MODIS sensor and change detection algorithm using satellite imagery collected from International Charter. We present the application case of National Disaster Management Institute(NDMI) which supported timely decision-making through GIS spatial analysis with various spatial data and snow cover map.