Signal-to-noise ratio reduction due to image smear concerning spaceborne imaging spectrometers for remote sensing of the earth

Abstract

In the last decade imaging spectrometers for Earth observation were developed by different government agencies because of the ability to use the full information of a spectrum as a major tool in the study of physical and biological processes of the Earth. Instead of a few relatively broad spectral bands, the new imager concepts provide the detection of many contiguous narrow spectral bands by applying the technology of 2D detectors. The step from 1D to 2D solid-state imagers makes it necessary to include the typical behavior of these advanced imagers on the signal-to-noise (SN) ratio analysis. A simulation of maximum and minimum radiances for typical spectral signatures of the Earth and the verification of these radiances with Modular Optoelectronic Scanner data give the source for the calculation of electronics generated at the imager's detector. Different sensors will be compared concerning water-minimum and vegetation-maximum signals, and the degradation of the SN ratio due to image-smear of 2D solid-state imagers is demonstrated. A developed smear parameter gives a tool for analyzing the spectrometer performance during the conceptual phase.