At EROS, we study land change and how it impacts ecosystems, economics, and everyday life. Our research focuses on six areas: Integrated Land Change Monitoring; Vegetation, Water and Climate Dynamics; Human Health and Food Security; Remote Sensing Research and Development; Wildland Fire Science; and Terrain Monitoring and Modeling.
The Next Level of Landsat
When it comes to mining remotely sensed data, Landsat Level-3 science products offer what some might call land cover gold.
LCMAP Captures ‘Stories of Change’
The Land Change Assessment, Monitoring, and Projection (LCMAP) initiative provides a virtual time machine to plot land cover change in the United States.
FAQs
Can you predict earthquakes?
No. Neither the USGS nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake. We do not know how, and we do not expect to know how any time in the foreseeable future. USGS scientists can only calculate the probability that a significant earthquake will occur (shown on our hazard mapping) in a specific area within a certain number of years. An earthquake prediction must define 3 elements: 1...
Can animals predict earthquakes?
The earliest reference we have to unusual animal behavior prior to a significant earthquake is from Greece in 373 BC. Rats, weasels, snakes, and centipedes reportedly left their homes and headed for safety several days before a destructive earthquake. Anecdotal evidence abounds of animals, fish, birds, reptiles, and insects exhibiting strange behavior anywhere from weeks to seconds before an...
Why are we having so many earthquakes? Has naturally occurring earthquake activity been increasing? Does this mean a big one is going to hit? OR We haven't had any earthquakes in a long time; does this mean that the pressure is building up for a big one?
A temporary increase or decrease in seismicity is part of the normal fluctuation of earthquake rates. Neither an increase nor decrease worldwide is a positive indication that a large earthquake is imminent. The ComCat earthquake catalog contains an increasing number of earthquakes in recent years--not because there are more earthquakes, but because there are more seismic instruments and they are...
Education
Landsat's Everyday Benefits
Landsat data improve people's quality of life!
The Landsat Program and satellite data archive provide roughly $3.45 billion in economic benefit to the United States and international communities according to a November 2019, USGS report.
Landsat Fact Sheets
Landsat Factsheets present a high-level overview of various concepts. Choose a factsheet to learn more about a topic.
Careers at the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) EROS Center is government-owned/directed and contractor-operated. The work of EROS is carried out through mission-support contracts with industry.