Atmospheric correction is the process of adjusting images taken by satellite or airborne sensors to remove distortions caused by the atmosphere. These distortionsâÂÂmainly due to the scattering and absorption of sunlight by particles and gasesâÂÂcan affect how accurately the sensor captures the true reflectance (or brightness) of the Earth's surface.
In remote sensing, atmospheric effects can significantly alter the spectral characteristics of the radiation detected by sensors. This occurs because light must pass through the atmosphere twiceâÂÂfirst as sunlight traveling to the Earth's surface, and again as reflected light returning to the sensorâÂÂundergoing both absorption and scattering along the way. These distortions can affect the accuracy of surface reflectance measurements and are typically corrected through a range of physical and statistical methods.