This graphic displays the timeline of generating Level-1 and Level-2 Landsat products.
How do I use Quality Assessment (QA) bands that are delivered with Landsat products?
Some Landsat products include Quality Assessment (QA) bands with unsigned integers that represent bit-packed information for each pixel. Details for individual products are at:
- Landsat Level-1 (Collection 1 and Collection2)
- Landsat Level-2 Surface Reflectance
- Landsat Level-2 Provisional Aquatic Reflectance
These files must be unpacked to a binary form to be used effectively. The bit-packed information in a QA band is a decimal translation of binary strings. For example, the decimal value “1” translates to the binary value “0001.” The binary value “0001” has 4 bits (0, 1, 2, and 3), written right to left as bits 0 (“1”), 1 (“0”), 2 (“0”), and 3 (“0”).
Each of the bits 0-3 represents a condition that can affect the calculation of a physical value:
- Bit 0 can be used to identify fill values
- Bit 1 can be used to identify a cloud
- Bit 2 can be used to indicate water
- Bit 3 can be used identify snow
If the condition is true, the bit is set to “1”; if the condition is false, the bit is set to “0”:
- Bit 0 = 1 = fill
- Bit 1 = 0 = no cloud
- Bit 2 = 0 = land
- Bit 3 = 0 = no snow
Quality Assessment tools are available to help users classify and extract bit packed values to enhance interpretation of the QA values for all Landsat data products.
Related Content
How long does it take to create Landsat Collection 2 Level-2 products after a Landsat scene is acquired?
Landsat Level-2 Surface Reflectance and Surface Temperature products require Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 scenes that are processed to Tier 1 or Tier 2, as well as additional auxiliary data. The Landsat Collection 2 Product Generation Timeline below gives a graphical view of this typical product generation timeframe.
How do I search for and download Landsat data?
Landsat data products held in the USGS archives can be searched and downloaded at no charge from a variety of sources. Visit Landsat Data Access for information about how Landsat data products can be downloaded individually or in bulk. Landsat imagery not found in the USGS archive might have been collected by one of the USGS International Cooperator ground stations, each of which are the primary...
How can I tell the difference between Landsat Collections data and Landsat data I have downloaded in the past?
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...
What are the Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data product file sizes?
The file sizes of Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data products are listed below: Sensor Compressed file Uncompressed file Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS 919 MB 1.61 GB Landsat 7 ETM+ 235 MB 785 MB Landsat 4-5 TM 150 MB 500 MB Landsat 1-5 MSS 20 MB 75 MB
What are Landsat Collection Tiers?
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...
What are Landsat Collections?
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
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...
Why are negative values observed over water in some Landsat Surface Reflectance products?
Landsat atmospheric correction and surface reflectance retrieval algorithms are not ideal for water bodies due to the inherently low surface reflectance of water. Similarly, surface reflectance values greater than 1.0 can be encountered over bright targets such as snow and playas. These are known computational artifacts in the Landsat surface reflectance products. Learn more Landsat Surface...
What Landsat data products are available?
There are several Landsat data products that are useful for science applications and land use/land change studies: Landsat Level-1 Science Products - Each Level-1 scene includes individual spectral band files, a metadata file, and additional ancillary files. These products cover worldwide scenes. U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD ) - Uses Landsat Collections Level-1 data as input to provide...
What is the Landsat Collections Saturation Bits parameter?
The Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 product metadata (MTL.txt) file includes a SATURATION_BAND_ x parameter for each Landsat band. This field indicates the presence of radiometric saturation for each band in every Landsat scene. Learn more: Landsat Collections Level-1 Saturation Bits Parameter
What are U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD)?
U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD) are pre-packaged and pre-processed bundles of Landsat data products that make the Landsat archive more accessible and easier to analyze, and reduce the amount of time users spend on data processing for time-series analysis. ARD contains Level-2 products derived from Landsat Collections Level-1 scenes. ARD are tiled, georegistered, top of atmosphere, and...
What are LandsatLook images?
LandsatLook images are full-resolution .jpeg files that were included as options when downloading Landsat Level-1 data from EarthExplorer or GloVis . Landsat Collection 2 LandsatLook images are now called "Full Resolution Browse images". Download them from EarthExplorer as individual files for each Landsat 1 through Landsat 9 Level-1 scene. These are useful for simple visual interpretation without...
Landsat Collection 2 Generation Timeline
This graphic displays the timeline of generating Level-1 and Level-2 Landsat products.
Example of the Landsat 8 Aquatic Reflectance Science Product
Left: Land surface reflectance natural color composite image (bands 4,3,2); Right: aquatic reflectance Band 2 (Blue band) image of San Francisco Bay, using data acquired by Landsat 8 (Path 44 Row 33) on October 7, 2018
Left: Land surface reflectance natural color composite image (bands 4,3,2); Right: aquatic reflectance Band 2 (Blue band) image of San Francisco Bay, using data acquired by Landsat 8 (Path 44 Row 33) on October 7, 2018
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
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.
Example of the Landsat Collection 2 products
Example of the Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 and Level-2 sample products from path 140 row 41, acquired on May 3, 2013. Left: Level-1 Top of Atmosphere. Middle: Level-2 Surface Reflectance. Right: Level-2 Surface Temperature.
Example of the Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 and Level-2 sample products from path 140 row 41, acquired on May 3, 2013. Left: Level-1 Top of Atmosphere. Middle: Level-2 Surface Reflectance. Right: Level-2 Surface Temperature.
Related Content
- FAQ
How long does it take to create Landsat Collection 2 Level-2 products after a Landsat scene is acquired?
Landsat Level-2 Surface Reflectance and Surface Temperature products require Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 scenes that are processed to Tier 1 or Tier 2, as well as additional auxiliary data. The Landsat Collection 2 Product Generation Timeline below gives a graphical view of this typical product generation timeframe.
How do I search for and download Landsat data?
Landsat data products held in the USGS archives can be searched and downloaded at no charge from a variety of sources. Visit Landsat Data Access for information about how Landsat data products can be downloaded individually or in bulk. Landsat imagery not found in the USGS archive might have been collected by one of the USGS International Cooperator ground stations, each of which are the primary...
How can I tell the difference between Landsat Collections data and Landsat data I have downloaded in the past?
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...
What are the Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data product file sizes?
The file sizes of Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data products are listed below: Sensor Compressed file Uncompressed file Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS 919 MB 1.61 GB Landsat 7 ETM+ 235 MB 785 MB Landsat 4-5 TM 150 MB 500 MB Landsat 1-5 MSS 20 MB 75 MB
What are Landsat Collection Tiers?
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...
What are Landsat Collections?
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
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...
Why are negative values observed over water in some Landsat Surface Reflectance products?
Landsat atmospheric correction and surface reflectance retrieval algorithms are not ideal for water bodies due to the inherently low surface reflectance of water. Similarly, surface reflectance values greater than 1.0 can be encountered over bright targets such as snow and playas. These are known computational artifacts in the Landsat surface reflectance products. Learn more Landsat Surface...
What Landsat data products are available?
There are several Landsat data products that are useful for science applications and land use/land change studies: Landsat Level-1 Science Products - Each Level-1 scene includes individual spectral band files, a metadata file, and additional ancillary files. These products cover worldwide scenes. U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD ) - Uses Landsat Collections Level-1 data as input to provide...
What is the Landsat Collections Saturation Bits parameter?
The Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 product metadata (MTL.txt) file includes a SATURATION_BAND_ x parameter for each Landsat band. This field indicates the presence of radiometric saturation for each band in every Landsat scene. Learn more: Landsat Collections Level-1 Saturation Bits Parameter
What are U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD)?
U.S. Landsat Analysis Ready Data (ARD) are pre-packaged and pre-processed bundles of Landsat data products that make the Landsat archive more accessible and easier to analyze, and reduce the amount of time users spend on data processing for time-series analysis. ARD contains Level-2 products derived from Landsat Collections Level-1 scenes. ARD are tiled, georegistered, top of atmosphere, and...
What are LandsatLook images?
LandsatLook images are full-resolution .jpeg files that were included as options when downloading Landsat Level-1 data from EarthExplorer or GloVis . Landsat Collection 2 LandsatLook images are now called "Full Resolution Browse images". Download them from EarthExplorer as individual files for each Landsat 1 through Landsat 9 Level-1 scene. These are useful for simple visual interpretation without...
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Landsat Collection 2 Generation Timeline
This graphic displays the timeline of generating Level-1 and Level-2 Landsat products.
This graphic displays the timeline of generating Level-1 and Level-2 Landsat products.
Example of the Landsat 8 Aquatic Reflectance Science ProductLeft: Land surface reflectance natural color composite image (bands 4,3,2); Right: aquatic reflectance Band 2 (Blue band) image of San Francisco Bay, using data acquired by Landsat 8 (Path 44 Row 33) on October 7, 2018
Left: Land surface reflectance natural color composite image (bands 4,3,2); Right: aquatic reflectance Band 2 (Blue band) image of San Francisco Bay, using data acquired by Landsat 8 (Path 44 Row 33) on October 7, 2018
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.
Landsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Example of the Landsat Collection 2 productsExample of the Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 and Level-2 sample products from path 140 row 41, acquired on May 3, 2013. Left: Level-1 Top of Atmosphere. Middle: Level-2 Surface Reflectance. Right: Level-2 Surface Temperature.
Example of the Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 and Level-2 sample products from path 140 row 41, acquired on May 3, 2013. Left: Level-1 Top of Atmosphere. Middle: Level-2 Surface Reflectance. Right: Level-2 Surface Temperature.
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