The variation in the influence of the atmosphere on ground reflectance appears to be small for a stable atmosphere al different haze conditions in the study area. For a comparison of field with simulated and actual satellite data the model of Verhoef was used, which requires as input the ratio of measured diffuse to total irradiation. Relative difference in planetary reflectance of Landsat TM predicted with an atmospheric model for a specific ground reflectance and the observed range of stable atmospheric conditions turned out to be small. In situ measured ground reflectance and the ground reflectance derived from planetary actual TM reflectance are in good agreement.