Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff MasekLandsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Data that is processed to meet Collections specifications has a Landsat Product Identifier, as opposed to the historical Landsat Scene ID. Along with information inherited from the Scene ID, the Landsat Product Identifier includes the processing level, processing date, collection number, and collection category (bolded below).
| Scene ID | Landsat Product Identifier |
|---|---|
| LXSPPPRRRYYYYDDDGSIVV | LXSS_LLL_PPPRRR_YYYYMMDD_yyyymmdd_CC_TX |
| L = Landsat X = Sensor S = Satellite PPP = WRS path RRR = WRS row YYYY = Year DDD = Julian day of year GSI = Ground station identifier VV = Archive version number |
L = Landsat X = Sensor (C=OLI?TIRS Combined, O=OLI-only, T=TIRS-only, E=ETM+, T=TM, M=MSS) SS = Satellite (07=Landsat 7, 08=Landsat 8) LLLL = Processing correction level (L1TP=Precision Terrain, L1GT=Systematic Terrain, L1GS=Systematic) PPP = WRS path RRR = WRS row YYYYMMDD = Acquisition year (YYYY)/Month (MM)/Day (DD) yyyymmdd = Processing year (yyyy)/Month (mm)/Day (dd) CC = Collection number (01, 02) TX = Collection category (RT = Real-Time, T1=Tier 1, or T2=Tier 2) |
| Examples: LC80290302015343LGN00 LE70160392004262EDC02 LT40170361982320XXX08 LM10170391976031AAA01 |
Examples: LC08_L1GT_029030_20151209_20160131_01_RT LE07_L1TP_016039_20040918_20160211_01_T1 LT04_L1TP_017036_19821116_20200918_02_T1 LM01_L1GS_017039_19760131_20160225_01_T2 |
The historical scene ID is listed in the metadata file (MTL.txt) delivered with the Level-1 data product, and is also visible and searchable (along with the Landsat Collection Product ID) in the online metadata on EarthExplorer.
Learn more: Landsat Collections
Landsat scenes become available through EarthExplorer within 6 hours after acquisition and become visible in GloVis within 24 hours. See Landsat Acquisitions for acquisition calendars and information about daily schedules.
The Sentinel-2A MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 and 9 (excluding the thermal bands of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)). All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/explore-data/data-collections/sentinel-…. To learn...
The table below shows the Landsat Collections Level-1 processing levels: Landsat Level-1 Processing Levels Processing Level Description Terrain Precision Correction (L1TP) Radiometrically calibrated and orthorectified using ground control points (GCPs) and digital elevation model (DEM) data to correct for relief displacement.The highest quality Level-1 products suitable for pixel-level time series...
Landsat Level-1 data are not corrected for atmospheric conditions; however, Landsat Science Products are atmospherically corrected. Learn more: L andsat Level-1 data Landsat U.S. Analysis Ready Data Landsat Level-2 and Level-3 Science Products Landsat Data Access
Updated digital elevation model (DEM) dataset files are now given a name that includes information about the resolution and format of the data. This prevents users from accidentally overwriting existing data that might have different resolutions and formats. For example: an older file: n44w071.zip would now have the name: USGS_13_n44w071.tif indicating 1/3 arc-second elevation data in geotiff...
The USGS archive contains data acquired by the Landsat satellites from 1972 to present. Data is downlinked to various ground stations around the world. While each ground station in the International Cooperator (IC) network is the primary source for distributing the captured data in their area, copies of the data have also been made available to the USGS to place in the Landsat archive for...
The historical Landsat Level-1 Scene ID is in the EarthExplorer metadata. After entering a search using the historical Scene ID, the Landsat Level-1 Collection 1 Product Identifier will be returned in the search results. The results can be exported from EarthExplorer in a variety of formats for metadata parsing. We also encourage use of the Bulk Metadata Service to download files that contain both...
Landsat Collection Tiers are the inventory structure for Level-1 data products and are based on data quality and level of processing. The tier definition purpose is to support easier identification of suitable scenes for time-series pixel-level analysis, and provide temporary data that are processed immediately upon downlink to be dispensed quickly in emergency response situations with limited...
In 2016, the USGS reorganized the Landsat archive into a tiered collection. This structure ensures that Landsat Level-1 products provide a consistent archive of known data quality to support time-series analyses and data “stacking”, while controlling continuous improvement of the archive and access to all data as they are acquired. Learn more: Landsat Collections Landsat Data Access
Landsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Boston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Boston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
The Beni River in Bolivia resembles a blue ribbon as it meanders toward the Amazon River. Scattered along the river are numerous oxbow lakes, which are curved bodies of water that form when a meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a freestanding body of water.
The Beni River in Bolivia resembles a blue ribbon as it meanders toward the Amazon River. Scattered along the river are numerous oxbow lakes, which are curved bodies of water that form when a meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a freestanding body of water.
Landsat scenes become available through EarthExplorer within 6 hours after acquisition and become visible in GloVis within 24 hours. See Landsat Acquisitions for acquisition calendars and information about daily schedules.
The Sentinel-2A MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 and 9 (excluding the thermal bands of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)). All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/explore-data/data-collections/sentinel-…. To learn...
The table below shows the Landsat Collections Level-1 processing levels: Landsat Level-1 Processing Levels Processing Level Description Terrain Precision Correction (L1TP) Radiometrically calibrated and orthorectified using ground control points (GCPs) and digital elevation model (DEM) data to correct for relief displacement.The highest quality Level-1 products suitable for pixel-level time series...
Landsat Level-1 data are not corrected for atmospheric conditions; however, Landsat Science Products are atmospherically corrected. Learn more: L andsat Level-1 data Landsat U.S. Analysis Ready Data Landsat Level-2 and Level-3 Science Products Landsat Data Access
Updated digital elevation model (DEM) dataset files are now given a name that includes information about the resolution and format of the data. This prevents users from accidentally overwriting existing data that might have different resolutions and formats. For example: an older file: n44w071.zip would now have the name: USGS_13_n44w071.tif indicating 1/3 arc-second elevation data in geotiff...
The USGS archive contains data acquired by the Landsat satellites from 1972 to present. Data is downlinked to various ground stations around the world. While each ground station in the International Cooperator (IC) network is the primary source for distributing the captured data in their area, copies of the data have also been made available to the USGS to place in the Landsat archive for...
The historical Landsat Level-1 Scene ID is in the EarthExplorer metadata. After entering a search using the historical Scene ID, the Landsat Level-1 Collection 1 Product Identifier will be returned in the search results. The results can be exported from EarthExplorer in a variety of formats for metadata parsing. We also encourage use of the Bulk Metadata Service to download files that contain both...
Landsat Collection Tiers are the inventory structure for Level-1 data products and are based on data quality and level of processing. The tier definition purpose is to support easier identification of suitable scenes for time-series pixel-level analysis, and provide temporary data that are processed immediately upon downlink to be dispensed quickly in emergency response situations with limited...
In 2016, the USGS reorganized the Landsat archive into a tiered collection. This structure ensures that Landsat Level-1 products provide a consistent archive of known data quality to support time-series analyses and data “stacking”, while controlling continuous improvement of the archive and access to all data as they are acquired. Learn more: Landsat Collections Landsat Data Access
Landsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Boston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Boston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
The Beni River in Bolivia resembles a blue ribbon as it meanders toward the Amazon River. Scattered along the river are numerous oxbow lakes, which are curved bodies of water that form when a meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a freestanding body of water.
The Beni River in Bolivia resembles a blue ribbon as it meanders toward the Amazon River. Scattered along the river are numerous oxbow lakes, which are curved bodies of water that form when a meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a freestanding body of water.