A sensor-based scheme for assessing cloud coverage in HJ-1 CCD data

Currently, most of the effective cloud detection algorithms utilize either temperature properties or reference image(s). Typically, the automatic cloud cover assessment (ACCA) algorithm for Landsat 7 ETM+ images detects cloudy pixels relying on the thermal channel (three times used in two passes). In another study, Fernando flags clouds through analyzing the reflectance distribution between the high resolution cloudy image and a reference cloud-free MODIS image. However, for those sensors whose thermal channels are absent, less achievement has been obtained when no reference image can be acquired. In this paper, we develop a sensor-based cloud detection scheme for HJ-1 CCD data. HJ-1 (A/B) satellite (the environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting small satellites) is an optical satellite which covers a 720 square km area and consists of four visible and near-infrared spectral bands with 30 m resolution, and has been applied in land use and disaster detection.