USGS EROS Archive - Sentinel-2 - Comparison of Sentinel-2 and Landsat
Comparison of Sentinel-2 and Landsat
NOTE: Sentinel-2 data are no longer available from USGS EROS as of November 19, 2022. All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://scihub.copernicus.eu/. To learn more about Sentinel data access information please visit: https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/sentinel-data-access.
Landsat Collection 1 data and products are no longer available to download from the USGS as of December 30, 2022. Landsat Collection 2 remains available. Please access the Landsat Collection 2 webpage below for information about Collection 2 data and science products.
Back to Sentinel-2 Product Page
NOTE: Sentinel-2 data are no longer be available from the USGS EROS, November 19, 2022.
Landsat Collection 1 data and products are no longer available to download from the USGS as of December 30, 2022. The information on this webpage is for reference only.
Radiometric Characteristics: The Sentinel-2A data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 (excluding the thermal bands of Landsat 8’s Thermal Infrared Sensor). The specific placement of the Sentinel-2A bands, as compared to Landsat 7 and 8 bands, can be seen in the graphic below.
The main visible and near-infrared Sentinel-2A bands have a spatial resolution of 10 meters, while its “red-edge” (red and near-infrared bands) and two shortwave infrared bands have a 20-meter spatial resolution. The coastal/aerosol, water vapor, and cirrus bands have a spatial resolution of 60 meters.
During the development of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A, calibration scientists from both projects worked together to cross-calibrate the sensors. Many scientists and researchers are looking forward to collectively using data from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A.
The USGS Spectral Characteristics Viewer helps users determine which spectral bands work best to identify their features of interest for image interpretation. This tool also facilitates the visualization of the Relative Spectral Response (RSR) of other satellite sensors such as Landsat.
Geometric Characteristics: Sentinel-2A Level-1C products have similar geometric accuracy as Landsat 8. The design requirements for the MSI are:
- Absolute geolocation uncertainty: 20 m 2σ without Ground Control Points (GCPs) and 12.5 m 2σ with GCPs.
- Multi-temporal registration: 0.3 pixel 2σ including compensation for the effects of terrain height variation.
- Multi-spectral registration (for any two spectral bands): 3 pixels 3σ.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
USGS EROS Archive - Sentinel-2
Comparison of Sentinel-2 and Landsat
NOTE: Sentinel-2 data are no longer available from USGS EROS as of November 19, 2022. All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://scihub.copernicus.eu/. To learn more about Sentinel data access information please visit: https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/sentinel-data-access.
Landsat Collection 1 data and products are no longer available to download from the USGS as of December 30, 2022. Landsat Collection 2 remains available. Please access the Landsat Collection 2 webpage below for information about Collection 2 data and science products.
Back to Sentinel-2 Product Page
NOTE: Sentinel-2 data are no longer be available from the USGS EROS, November 19, 2022.
Landsat Collection 1 data and products are no longer available to download from the USGS as of December 30, 2022. The information on this webpage is for reference only.
Radiometric Characteristics: The Sentinel-2A data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 (excluding the thermal bands of Landsat 8’s Thermal Infrared Sensor). The specific placement of the Sentinel-2A bands, as compared to Landsat 7 and 8 bands, can be seen in the graphic below.
The main visible and near-infrared Sentinel-2A bands have a spatial resolution of 10 meters, while its “red-edge” (red and near-infrared bands) and two shortwave infrared bands have a 20-meter spatial resolution. The coastal/aerosol, water vapor, and cirrus bands have a spatial resolution of 60 meters.
During the development of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A, calibration scientists from both projects worked together to cross-calibrate the sensors. Many scientists and researchers are looking forward to collectively using data from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A.
The USGS Spectral Characteristics Viewer helps users determine which spectral bands work best to identify their features of interest for image interpretation. This tool also facilitates the visualization of the Relative Spectral Response (RSR) of other satellite sensors such as Landsat.
Geometric Characteristics: Sentinel-2A Level-1C products have similar geometric accuracy as Landsat 8. The design requirements for the MSI are:
- Absolute geolocation uncertainty: 20 m 2σ without Ground Control Points (GCPs) and 12.5 m 2σ with GCPs.
- Multi-temporal registration: 0.3 pixel 2σ including compensation for the effects of terrain height variation.
- Multi-spectral registration (for any two spectral bands): 3 pixels 3σ.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.