Since 1992, NLCD data, derived from the Landsat satellite record, have provided nationwide land cover and land cover change information. Data are offered at a 30-meter spatial resolution, with detailed characteristics of the land surface, such as thematic classes (e.g., urban, agriculture, forest), percent impervious surface, and percent tree canopy cover. Legacy NLCD includes map products for nine distinct epochs between 2001 and 2021 (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021). These data are no longer produced; users are encouraged to transition to the Annual NLCD data.
Annual NLCD introduced a new methodology that leverages an ensemble of chained deep learning models and harmonic time series analysis. This approach enables the creation of validated annual land cover and related products spanning nearly four decades, with annual updates. First released in 2024, Annual NLCD is a record of land cover and fractional impervious surface for CONUS from 1985 to 2023. Updates are planned annually, with the Collection 1.1 released in June 2025 that contains 40 years of landcover from 1985 to 2024. Products for other regions, like Alaska and Hawaii, are expected in future years, with tentative releases scheduled for 2026.
