Digital values, TOA radiance and reflectance
For the specified Landsat Level-1 product, metadata supplies band-specific rescaling L_λ=M_LQ_cal+A_L and uncorrected planetary reflectanceρ′=M_ρQ_cal+A_ρ.
Key knowledge
For the specified Landsat Level-1 product, metadata supplies band-specific rescaling L_λ=M_LQ_cal+A_L and uncorrected planetary reflectanceρ′=M_ρQ_cal+A_ρ. Correcting illumination angle gives TOAρ=ρ′/cosθ_SZ. These are calibrated top-of-atmosphere quantities; they do not by themselves remove atmospheric path effects or recover directional surface reflectance.
Values and equations
L_λ=M_LQ_cal+A_L; ρ′=M_ρQ_cal+A_ρ; ρ_TOA=ρ′/cosθ_SZ
- L_λ,A_L,M_L
- TOA band spectral radiance, additive coefficient and coefficient per numerical DN W m⁻² sr⁻¹ μm⁻¹ (per DN for M_L)
- Q_cal
- valid quantized calibrated product number DN
- ρ′,ρ_TOA,A_ρ,M_ρ
- uncorrected/angle-corrected reflectance and product scaling coefficients 1 (per DN for M_ρ)
- θ_SZ
- local solar zenith angle rad
Conditions and scope
- Use the actual collection/product band's coefficients, valid calibrated pixels, wavelength/radiance-unit convention and applicable solar geometry. The reflected-light cosine correction needs cosθ_SZ>0 and appropriate local angle.
- Do not reuse coefficients from another band, sensor or product; historical ESUN tables are not the general Collection scaling rule. Clouds, atmospheric correction, shadows, viewing geometry, saturation/fill values and bandpass differences matter when comparing scenes or sensors.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Read actual USGS TOA Radiance and Reflectance sections, metadata definitions and local-versus-scene-centre angle paragraph plus historical-table caveat. Preserved product-specific method rather than universal DN law; explicitly separated TOA from atmospherically corrected surface products. No mission bit-depth/current-product availability or all metadata fields verified.
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Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- uni-earth-landsat-radiance-reflectance
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion