Eyes on Earth is a podcast on remote sensing, Earth observation, land change and science, brought to you by the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
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The Eyes on Earth podcast is currently hosted by Tom Adamson, Jane Lawson, and Sheri Levisay (contractors for USGS EROS). Episodes are produced by Tom Adamson. Past hosts include John Hult and Steve Young (contractors for USGS EROS). Past producers include John Hult and Brian Hauge (contractors for USGS EROS).
Latest Episodes
Episode 109 – Fall 2023 EROS Poster Session
In this episode, we hear from several EROS staff members and university graduate students who took part in our Fall Poster Session. Lively conversations filled the EROS atrium during the hour-long event. Participants got to learn from one another as they shared their work. We talked to a few of them to get quick summaries of their research.
Guests: Belinda Apili (graduate student, South Dakota State University), Khushboo Jain (graduate student, University of South Dakota), Naeem Malik (graduate student, South Dakota State University), Stefanie Kagone (ASRC Federal Data Solutions, contractor to USGS EROS), Abby Miller (C2G, contractor to USGS EROS), Steve Boyte (USGS EROS), Sakshi Saraf (graduate student, University of South Dakota), Zack Schild (graduate student, University of South Dakota), Ubaid Janjua (graduate student, South Dakota State University)
Episode 108 – Landsat 8’s 100th Drag Make-Up Maneuver
The Landsat Program is considered the gold standard for satellite Earth-observation imagery. To keep it that way, the USGS EROS Flight Operations Team continually monitors the flight paths of the Landsat satellites to make sure they stay at a consistent 705-kilometer altitude. That means frequently speeding it up to counter the effects of atmospheric drag. But that’s not all. The team accounts for solar activity, space junk, and other factors to keep the satellites safe. Landsat 8’s 100th Drag Make-Up maneuver in October 2023 gives us the opportunity, in this episode, to talk about these and the other maneuvers the flight team executes and how they work.
Guest: Larry Tornabene, Flight Systems Manager for Landsat 8
Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time. In this episode, we learn how the two projects at EROS, both based on 30-meter resolution Landsat satellite data, are merging to bring the strengths of each to future data releases under the NLCD name. This is the second of two episodes discussing land cover work at EROS, with the first focused on earlier pioneering efforts.
Guests: Terry Sohl, Research Physical Scientist at USGS EROS, and Jon Dewitz, Physical Scientist at USGS EROS
Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
Several decades ago, EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts. In this episode, we explore some of this history, along with how it benefited people at the time and the mapping efforts that would follow. Our next episode will look at two modern efforts at EROS, NLCD and LCMAP, and how their strengths are merging for the next generation of land cover and change products.
Guest: Jesslyn Brown, longtime research geographer at USGS EROS
Episode 105 – Imagery Challenges of Alaska
In this episode, we focus on Alaska. Rich in wildlife and natural resources, not to mention its sheer size, Alaska has long been a source of fascination for remote sensing scientists. But it is also a source of frustration, with frequent cloud and snow cover and months of darkness each year. Three EROS researchers well versed in interpreting Landsat imagery from Alaska shared their insights about the Last Frontier.
Guests: Donna Viola, formerly of the Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) project, Jon Dewitz, the coordinator for the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) at EROS, and Neal Pastick, a physical scientist at EROS.
Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode highlights their stories, with emphasis on science, technology and EROS’ international outlook.
Guests: Ron Beck, Ron Risty, Jeff Eidenshink, Bruce Millett, Dave Greenlee, Darrell Napton, Curtis Woodcock and Jim Irons
Episode 103 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.
Guests: Dave Greenlee, Tom Earley, Charles Luden, Ron Beck, Rhonda Watkins, Chris McGinty, Mary O’Neill, John Faundeen and Frank Kelly
Episode 102 – LANDFIRE 2022 Update
LANDFIRE, short for Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools, is a key national data source for the management of wildfires, management of the plant materials that fuel fires, and planning for prescribed fires across all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The data products, partly derived from satellite imagery, are generated at EROS through a partnership between the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, with The Nature Conservancy as an additional partner. In this episode, we learn about how LANDFIRE is including more up-to-date information than ever about disturbances to the land.
Guest: Inga La Puma, a USGS EROS contractor at the time of the recording but now with the USDA Forest Service, still as a LANDFIRE fire scientist
Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead
EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode. He shares the historic event he would have enjoyed being part of in the past, and he gives insights about remote sensing work at EROS going forward.
Guest: Pete Doucette, EROS Center Director
Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy
As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.
Guests: Tom Loveland, Mike O’Brien, Greg Stensaas, Mike Budde, Chris Funk, Kristi Kline, Barb Ryan, Curtis Woodcock, Chris Barber, Dennis Helder, Francis Dwomoh, Roger Auch, Heather Tollerud, Todd Taylor, Volker Radeloff, Mary O’Neill, Steve Covington, Zhe Zhu, Ann Tripp, Jon Christopherson
Episode 99 – EROS 50th: Interns Who Stayed
EROS has a long history of reaching out to universities to welcome interns who can both contribute to the center and gain valuable skills and experience. A good number of them went on to spend their careers at EROS, some for more than three decades. In this episode, these interns who stayed emphasized above all the mission—observing Earth remotely, recording the changes and applying those to science—as their motivation for remaining at EROS. However, all of them also mentioned another key word that inspired them to stay: camaraderie.
Guests: Jesslyn Brown, Susan Embrock, Kristi Sayler, Roger Auch
Episode 98 – EROS 50th: Conservation
In this episode, we talk about the 50-year history of EROS efforts to preserve the environment and conserve energy. EROS was born in the ’70s, the same decade as Earth Day, the EPA, and the oil crisis. Environmentally conscious decisions implemented by both the EROS Center and the employee association include reclaiming silver from photo processing, using solar panels to heat the water needed for that process, and starting a vanpool.
Guests: Brent Nelson, Information and Management Services Operations Work Manager and contractor for USGS EROS; Tim Smith Information Management Services Archive Task Lead and contractor for USGS EROS; and Tracy Michel, USGS Safety and Occupational Health Specialist
Episode 97 – EROS 50th: Earth As Art
Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. In this episode, we talk with the three engineers at USGS EROS who started the USGS Earth As Art project. The Earth As Art origin story is an example of the initiative and creativity of EROS staff. This stunningly visual product grabs the public’s attention—and then leads to conversations about the value of remote sensing with satellites.
*Be sure to listen to the bonus material—the guests talk about their favorite Earth As Art images.
Guests: Jon Christopherson, Principal System Engineer, contractor for USGS EROS; Ron Hayes, Digital Data Technical Lead, contractor for USGS EROS; Pat Scaramuzza, Senior Scientist, contractor for USGS EROS
Episode 96 – Generational Science
In this episode, we talk with Peder Nelson about generational science and the responsibility we have to future generations to study our changing planet. It takes more than just data to make sense of land change. And while remote sensing scientists work with the deep archive of Landsat and other land data available from the USGS EROS Center, everyone can put themselves on the timeline of Landsat data. Citizen science projects allow anyone to participate in the observations that help us understand the world around us.
Guest: Peder Nelson, Oregon State University
Episode 95 – EROS 50th: Landsat Science Team
The members of the five-year Landsat Science Teams, led jointly by the USGS and NASA with a strong tie to EROS, have brought a wide breadth of expertise, backgrounds and geographic locations to the table. In this episode, we learn how members have explored strategies for the effective use of archived Landsat data and integration of future data, and how they have helped identify Landsat user needs for upcoming satellite sensors, including those on the future Landsat Next.
Guests: Curtis Woodcock, Boston University and 4 terms on Landsat Science Team; Mike Wulder, Canadian Forest Service and 3 terms on Landsat Science Team; David Roy, Michigan State University professor and 2 terms on Landsat Science Team
Related Content
Find past episodes and their episode pages below.
Click on an episode title to visit the episode page. Episode pages include related content, transcript access, and full episode credits.
Eyes on Earth Episode 108 – Landsat 8’s 100th Drag Make-Up Maneuver
Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
Eyes on Earth Episode 105 – Imagery Challenges of Alaska
Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2
Eyes on Earth Episode 103 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1
Eyes on Earth Episode 102 – LANDFIRE 2022 Update
Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead
Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy
Eyes on Earth Episode 99 – EROS 50th: Interns Who Stayed
Eyes on Earth Episode 98 – EROS 50th: Conservation
Eyes on Earth Episode 97 – EROS 50th: Earth As Art
Eyes on Earth Honors 50-Year USGS EROS Legacy in 100th Episode
Check out our newest episode of Eyes on Earth – it’s a big one!
Related Content
- Science
Find past episodes and their episode pages below.
Click on an episode title to visit the episode page. Episode pages include related content, transcript access, and full episode credits.
Filter Total Items: 108Eyes on Earth Episode 108 – Landsat 8’s 100th Drag Make-Up Maneuver
The USGS EROS Landsat Flight Operations Team recently completed the 100th Drag Make-Up maneuver for Landsat 8.Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The next step for two strong land cover products at USGS EROS is to combine them to create something even better.Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
USGS EROS contributed to a better understanding of the Earth’s surface by leading early land cover mapping efforts.Eyes on Earth Episode 105 – Imagery Challenges of Alaska
Remote sensing is the best way to observe Alaska, but our largest state also presents unique challenges for scientists to get clear imagery.Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2
This second special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about science, technology and the international outlook at EROS.Eyes on Earth Episode 103 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1
This special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about the history and people at EROS.Eyes on Earth Episode 102 – LANDFIRE 2022 Update
LANDFIRE, a trusted source for fire-related data, has started releasing key information even faster.Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead
In its 50th anniversary year, EROS received a new leader who celebrates the past while embracing the future.Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy
Join us for a special 100th episode of Eyes on Earth as we bring back the past!Eyes on Earth Episode 99 – EROS 50th: Interns Who Stayed
EROS has always welcomed interns to work and learn at the center—and many of them have stayed on over the years, some for decades!Eyes on Earth Episode 98 – EROS 50th: Conservation
EROS has implemented its high-tech, energy-intensive production of data and imagery with an eye toward conservation throughout the 50 years it has been in operation.Eyes on Earth Episode 97 – EROS 50th: Earth As Art
In addition to their scientific value, many satellite images are simply intriguing to look at. Some might even remind you of actual famous works of art! - Multimedia
- News
Eyes on Earth Honors 50-Year USGS EROS Legacy in 100th Episode
Check out our newest episode of Eyes on Earth – it’s a big one!