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Can Landsat Collection Real-Time scenes be used in my research?

Landsat Collections Real-Time (RT) data is provided within 12 hours of acquisition in support of the International Charter to help mitigate the effects of disasters on human life and property. 

The RT tier contains data received from Landsat 8 immediately after acquisition. Estimated radiometric and geometric calibration parameters are applied to these scenes. When final radiometric and geometric calibration parameters are calculated (about 16 days for Landsat 8), the RT scenes are reprocessed with the more precise calibration parameters and placed into either Tier 1 or Tier 2. 

Newly acquired Landsat 9 scenes are immediately placed into Tier 1 or Tier 2 and available for download within 4-6 hours after acquisition.  

Learn More: Landsat Collections