Procedures for calculation of the albedo with OLI-Landsat 8 images: Application to the Brazilian semi-arid

Abstract

ABSTRACT The surface albedo plays an important role in the exchanges of energy and mass in the planetary boundary layer. Therefore, changes in albedo affect the balance of radiation and energy at the surface, which can be detected with its monitoring. Albedo determination has been performed through various sensors, but there is not yet any publication dealing with albedo calculation procedures using OLI (Operational Land Imager) - Landsat 8 images. The objective of the study is to present the procedures for computing the albedo with OLI images and map it in irrigated areas of the São Gonçalo Irrigated District, PB, Brazil. Images of the year 2013, path 215 and row 65, were selected. The data necessary for calculating the albedo were extracted from each image metadata: additive and multiplicative terms of radiance and reflectance, and sun elevation angle. There were large differences between the albedo values of irrigated plots, water bodies and native vegetation. The albedo obtained with OLI images provides a higher degree of differentiation of the various types of land use, due to the substantial increase in the radiometric resolution of this new sensor.