Evaluation of spectral variability of irrigated crops in Landsat 8 images

Landsat 8, launched in February 2013, is the newest addition to the series of Landsat Earth Observation Satellites and features higher radiometric resolution than its predecessors. In January 2015, US Geological Survey (USGS) released calibrated data (i.e., reflectance) that accounts for difference in sun-angle and atmospheric conditions. This research project aims to evaluate the spectral variances of irrigated crops in Landsat 8 imagery acquired throughout the growing season in 2013 and 2014. Irrigated fields were selected from multiple regions of Wyoming, and their spectral reflectance values were extracted using ERDAS Imagine, an image processing software. Reflectance values were statistically analyzed to evaluate the differences within each field and crop, and also between crops. Results from these analyses will identify the potential of Landsat 8 data for distinguishing crops. Results from this research will provide insights to USGS and NASA scientists who are currently designing Landsat 9 and Landsat 10.