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How is the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Cirrus Band 9 used?

The Operational Land Imager’s Band 9 1.360-1.390 µm on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 detects thin, high-altitude clouds composed of ice crystals that might not be visible in other spectral bands. In Band 9, cirrus clouds appear bright while most land surfaces appear dark through an otherwise cloud-free atmosphere containing water vapor.

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Square satellite image showing blue water, green land, and small areas of white cloud
Landsat 8 Path 112 Row 66 acquired August 3, 2013. OLI bands 4,3,2 composite. 
Square satellie image that is mostly grey with small blobs and wisps of white clouds
Landsat 8 Path 112 Row 66 acquired August 3, 2013. Image shows cirrus clouds visible using Cirrus band 9. Landsat 8's Band 9 (1.360-1.390 µm) provides detection of high-altitude cloud contamination that may not be visible in other spectral bands. Cirrus clouds appear bright while most land surfaces will appear dark through cloud-free atmospheres containing water vapor.
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