Elimination of clouds in AVHRR/2 images of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

For achieving the snow mapping of AVHRR/2 (i.e. the second version of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) data, clouds need to be eliminated in AVHRR/2 images. However, the clouds are difficult to be identified from the AVHRR/2 image with clouds and snow together. Here, clouds were divided into high clouds, medium clouds, low clouds, and thin clouds. Based on the respective thresholds from experiments using AVHRR/2 data of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, the four kinds of clouds were identified and eliminated from the AVHRR/2 images. According to visual validation, the results of cloud elimination were reliable and accurate.