Cirrus clouds that adversely affect Landsat 8 images: What are they and how to detect them?

We developed an algorithm called Cmask (Cirrus cloud mask) for cirrus cloud detection in Landsat 8 imagery using time series of Cirrus Band (1.36–1.39 μm) observations. For each pixel, a harmonic model, which includes a water vapor regressor, based on all available Cirrus Band observations is estimated using the Robust Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares (RIRLS) regression approach, and pixels affected by cirrus cloud are identified by comparing model predictions and actual satellite observations of the Cirrus Band Top-Of-Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of increasing Cirrus Band TOA reflectance on the surface reflectance of the Blue, Green, Red, Near Infrared (NIR), and two Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) (SWIR 1 and SWIR 2) Bands based on a set of globally distributed random samples. The goal of this study is to answer the question of what are cirrus clouds in the context of a Landsat observation, or more specifically, when should we identify a pixel as cirrus cloud such that we know the reflectance in the other spectral bands has been seriously affected by cirrus clouds. The challenge is to then develop a simple and operational algorithm for accurate detection of cirrus clouds in Landsat 8 images. The Cmask algorithm reduced almost by half the errors found in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Quality Assessment (QA) Band for distinguishing cirrus cloud and clear observations (8% versus 15% error). •We analyzed cirrus cloud impacts on the surface reflectance of Landsat 8 data.•We developed a cirrus cloud detection algorithm called Cmask.•TOA reflectance from the Cirrus Band and water vapor data were used.•The combined use of Cmask and Fmask is recommended.