Landsat Missions
Publications
LandsatEarth observation satellites
Landsat 8 thermal infrared sensor scene select mechanism open loop operations
The Landsat 8 (L8) spacecraft and its two instruments, the operational land imager (OLI) and thermal infrared sensor (TIRS), have been consistently characterized and calibrated since its launch in February 2013. These performance metrics and calibration updates are determined through the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat image...
Choate, Michael; Rengarajan, R.; Storey, James C.; Beckmann, Tim
Landsat collection 2
Landsat Collections ensure that all Landsat Level-1 data are consistently calibrated and processed and retain traceability of data quality provenance. Landsat Collection 2 introduces improvements that harness recent advancements in data processing, algorithm development, data access, and distribution capabilities. Collection 2 includes Landsat...
Maine and Landsat
Maine is a place of rocky coastlines, of rich maritime history symbolized by lighthouses dotting the ocean bluffs, and of wondrous nature areas like the granite and spruce islands of Acadia National Park. But Maine is a place of changes, too. Climate variability has brought the state heavier and more frequent rainstorms. Summers are hotter and...
Minnesota and Landsat
Landsat land-imaging satellites underpin public and private sector decisions in the Minnesota and across the Nation for effective adaptation to changing landscapes. Those decisions often lead to enhanced agricultural productivity, smart urban development, and sustainable forest management. Landsat also enables more accurate inland lake water-...
The new Landsat Collection-2 Digital Elevation Model
The Landsat Collection-2 distribution introduces a new global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for scene orthorectification. The new global DEM is a composite of the latest and most accurate freely available DEM sources and will include reprocessed Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data (called NASADEM), high-resolution stereo optical data (...
Franks, Shannon; Storey, James C.; Rengarajan, Rajagopalan Harmonizing the Landsat ground reference with the Sentinel-2 Global Reference Image using space-based bundle adjustment
There is an ever-increasing need to use accurate and consistent geometric ground reference in the processing of remotely sensed data products as it reduces the burden on the end-users to account for the differences between the data products from different missions. In this regard, United States Geological Survey (USGS) initiated an effort to...
Rengarajan, Rajagopalan; Storey, James C.; Choate, Michael Landsat Collection 2 geometric calibration updates
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) changed the management and delivery of Landsat products to the public in its archive through the implementation of Collections. The Collections process ensures consistent data quality through time and across all the Landsat sensors with a few modifications to the metadata. The consistent data products from...
Rengarajan, R.; Choate, Michael; Storey, James C.; Franks, Shannon; Micijevic, Esad
40 years strong—Long-time Geoscience Australia, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) partnership benefits both agencies and the world
In 1979, the Australian Government chose the city of Alice Springs to host a Landsat Ground Station because of its location in central Australia. This location enables satellite coverage of the entire Australian continent. Its antennas have played a key role in supporting international satellite programs over more than 40 years.
National Land Imaging Program
Changes taking place across the Earth’s land surface have the potential to affect people, economies, and the environment on a daily basis. Our Nation’s economic security and environmental vitality rely on continuous monitoring of the Earth’s continents, islands, and coastal regions to record, study, and understand land change at local, regional,...
Young, Steven M. Landsat 9: Empowering open science and applications through continuity
The history of Earth observation from space is well reflected through the Landsat program. With data collection beginning with Landsat-1 in 1972, the program has evolved technical capabilities while maintaining continuity of land observations. In so doing, Landsat has provided a critical reference for assessing long-term changes to Earth's land...
Masek, Jeffery G.; Wulder, Michael A.; Markham, Brian; McCorkel, Joel; Crawford, Christopher J.; Storey, James C.; Jenstrom, Del Observations and recommendations for coordinated calibration activities of government and commercial optical satellite systems
One of the biggest changes in the world of optical remote sensing over the last several years is the sheer increase in the number of sensors that are imaging the Earth in moderate to high spatial resolution. With respect to the calibration of these sensors, they are broadly classified into two types, namely government systems and commercial...
Helder, Dennis; Anderson, Cody; Beckett, Keith; Houborg, Rasmus; Zuleta, Ignacio; Boccia, Valentina; Clerc, Sebastian; Kuester, Michele; Brian Markham; Pagnutti, M. The U. S. Geological Survey’s approach to analysis ready data
Analysis Ready Data (ARD) is a recent concept in Earth observing remote sensing which encompasses many different initiatives by individual imagery providers and collaborative international organizations working towards easing/minimizing data preprocessing required by users. This allows users to spend more time on analysis and less time on...
Anderson, Cody; Labahn, Steven; Helder, Dennis; Stensaas, Gregory L.; Engebretson, Christopher; Crawford, Christopher J.; Jenkerson, Calli B.; Barnes, Christopher