Spatiotemporal image-fusion model for enhancing the temporal resolution of Landsat-8 surface reflectance images using MODIS images

Our aim was to evaluate a spatiotemporal image-fusion model (STI-FM) for enhancing the temporal resolution (i.e., from 16 to 8 days) of Landsat-8 surface reflectance images by utilizing the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images, and assess its applicability over a heterogeneous agriculture dominant semiarid region in Jordan. Our proposed model had two major components: (i) establishing relationships between two 8-day MODIS composite images acquired at two different times (i.e., time 1 and time 2); and (ii) generating synthetic Landsat-8 surface reflectance images at time 2 as a function of Landsat-8 images available at time 1 and the relationship constructed in the first component. We evaluated the synthetic images with the actual Landsat-8 images and observed strong relations between them. For example: the coefficient of determination (r) was in the range: (i) 0.72 to 0.82; (ii) 0.71 to 0.79; and (iii) 0.78 to 0.83; for red, near-infrared (NIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR2.2 μm) spectral bands, respectively. In addition, root mean square error (RMSE) and absolute average difference (AAD) values were: (i) in between 0.003 and 0.004, and 0.0002, respectively, for red band; (ii) 0.005 and 0.0003, respectively, for NIR band; and (iii) 0.004 and in between 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively, for SWIR2.2 μm band. The developed method would be useful in understanding the dynamics of environment issues (e.g., agriculture drought and irrigation management), which require both relatively high spatial (i.e., 30 m) and high temporal resolution (i.e., 8 days) images. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. [DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.9.096095]