The aim of this study is to determine the availability of cloud-free images in relation to satellite revisit periods for the UK and in particular for the North West of England. Cloud cover was analysed with cloud masks from AVHRR/APOLLO and TERRA/MODIS cloud products. Availability of cloud-free images was determined from revisit frequency and the numbers of monthly images from Landsat ETM+, ASTER, Quickbird and SPOT satellite sensor series. The average number of cloud-free days at Risley Moss and Charter's Moss is five days per month with a minimum of one cloud-free day. The results show that satellite revisit periods and cloud cover are major determinants of satellite data availability and in this study it was also found that contrary to popular opinion, satellite overpass does not necessarily mean imaging opportunity and additional cloud-free images could be obtained when there are no satellite overpasses. The numbers of cloud-free images at a given site may be increased by combining data from different satellite sensors.
Ogunbadewa, E. Y. (2012). Characterizing cloud cover and satellite revisit with cloud masks in North West England. Geodesy and Cartography, 38(1), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.3846/20296991.2012.679803
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms
that this article contains no violation of any existing copyright or other third party right or any material of a libelous, confidential, or otherwise unlawful nature, and that I will indemnify and keep indemnified the Editor and THE PUBLISHER against all claims and expenses (including legal costs and expenses) arising from any breach of this warranty and the other warranties on my behalf in this agreement;
that I have obtained permission for and acknowledged the source of any illustrations, diagrams or other material included in the article of which I am not the copyright owner.
on behalf of any co-authors, I agree to this work being published in Geodesy and Cartography as Open Access, and licenced under a Creative Commons Licence, 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This licence allows for the fullest distribution and re-use of the work for the benefit of scholarly information.
For authors that are not copyright owners in the work (for example government employees), please contact VILNIUS TECH to make alternative agreements.
