In　this　paper,　a　hierarchical　spectral　imagery　coding　method　has　been　proposed.　The　spectral　imagery　is　encoded　into　two　layers,　i.e.　base　layer　and　enhancement　layer.　Firstly,　an　PCA-FVQ　(Principal　Component　Analysis　based　Fast　Vector　Quantization)　coding　method　has　been　proposed　to　generate　the　base　layer　bitstream,　which　can　be　decoded　independently　to　provide　a　basic　image　quality.　Then　the　differential　data　between　the　original　image　and　the　reconstructed　image　decoded　from　the　base　layer　bitstream　is　encoded　by　3D-SPECK　algorithm　to　generate　the　enhancement　layer　bitstream　which　can　provide　an　enhanced　image　quality.　The　experimental　results　show　that,　under　the　same　coding　conditions,　compared　with　3D-SPECK　algorithm,　the　proposed　method　has　achieved　1-15dB　higher　image　quality　improvement　in　terms　of　SNR　(Signal　to　Noise)　while　the　compression　ratio　can　be　controlled　precisely.　©　2012　IEEE.