Multi-temporal Landsat ETM+ Mosaic Method for Generating Land Cover Map over the Korean Peninsula

For generating accurate land cover map over the whole Korean Peninsula, post-mosaic classification method is desirable in large area where multiple image data sets are used. We try to derive an optimal mosaic method of multi-temporal Landsat ETM+ scenes for the land cover classification over the Korea Peninsula. Total 65 Landsat ETM+ scenes were acquired, which were taken in 2000 and 2001. To reduce radiometric difference between adjacent Landsat ETM+ scenes, we apply three relative radiometric correction methods (histogram matching, 1st-regression method referenced center image, and 1st-regression method at each Landsat ETM+ path). After the relative correction, we generated three mosaic images for three seasons of leaf-off, transplanting, leaf-on season. For comparison, three mosaic images were compared by the mean absolute difference and computer classification accuracy. The results show that the mosaic image using lst-regression method at each path show the best correction results and highest classification accuracy. Additionally, the mosaic image acquired during leaf-on season show the higher radiance variance between adjacent images than other season.