Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Brazilian officials tasked with managing their country’s water resources are working with staff at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center to better understand how that valuable asset is being used for agricultural irrigation in their homeland.

For all the great Federal records and remotely sensed products out there that have documented fires across the United States through the decades, it seems almost none have consistently and comprehensively mapped those burned areas across time and space.

At least not until now.

University of Hawaii Geology and Geophysics Professor Chip Fletcher spread his maps on the table as land planners from Majuro—a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Central Pacific’s Republic of the Marshall Islands­—leaned in.

A powerful data extraction tool that intuitively streamlines and simplifies the exploration of more than 100 datasets within NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) now has expanded to include its first two datasets from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

When it comes to the business of acquiring remotely sensed data, of preserving that data and providing a portal to it, National Land Imaging Program Coordinator Tim Newman is a man with a focus.

Agencies like NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that commit multiple millions of dollars to put Landsat satellites into space need to know that the spacecraft, the sensors onboard, the ground system operating the satellite, and the launch vehicle are all designed and built the right way.

In the days of Hurricane Florence, when the winds blew, the rains fell, the ocean surged, and the rivers overflowed, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners moved quickly to make a difference in people’s lives.

Forty-six years ago, there was a single Earth observation satellite circling the globe – Landsat 1.

By 1988, four countries operated such satellites. In 2018, there were 45 Earth observing satellites launched by September. Another 36 launches are planned this year.

The number of countries operating satellites? That’s swollen to 54.

Tim Rykowski has a history of reviewing satellite ground systems. NASA’s Space Network Systems Manager, Rykowski figures he’s probably sat in on a few dozen such reviews during his 35 years at NASA, including the design and build of the Landsat 9 (L9) Ground System that’s going on now.

The USGS EROS Center is happy to announce the addition of a new Earth As Art collection. With Earth As Art 5, we have added 24 new art images from Earth-observing satellites that show off the beauty and wonder of the planet.

To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Florence, visit the USGS Hurricane Florence page at https://www.usgs.gov/florence.