Atmospheric　conditions　induced　by　suspended　particles,　such　as　fog　and　haze,　severely　alter　the　scene　appearance.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　novel　defogging　method　based　on　the　local　extrema,　aiming　at　improving　the　image　visibility　under　foggy　or　hazy　weather　condition.　The　proposed　method　utilizes　atmospheric　scattering　model　to　realize　the　fog　removal.　It　applies　the　local　extrema　method　to　figure　out　three　pyramid　levels　to　estimate　atmospheric　veil,　and　manipulates　the　tone　and　contrast　of　details　at　different　scales　through　multi-scale　tone　manipulation　algorithm.　The　results　on　the　experiments　of　comparison　with　traditional　methods　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　method　can　achieve　more　accurate　restoration　for　the　color　and　details,　resulting　in　a　great　improvement　in　image　visibility.　©　2014　Chinese　Association　of　Automation.