On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Winter Storm Enzo brought an exceptionally rare snowfall to the Greater Houston metro area of Texas. The National Weather Service reported 5.5 inches (14 cm) in Baytown, a city located east of Houston on the northern shore of Galveston Bay. Other cities and locales received upwards of 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm).
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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Related
How is the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Coastal/Aerosol Band 1 used? How is the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Coastal/Aerosol Band 1 used?
The Operational Land Imager Band 1 ( 0.433-0.453 µm) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 is useful for imaging shallow water and tracking fine atmospheric particles like dust and smoke. Band 1 reflects blues and violets, where light is scattered by dust, smoke, and water particles in the air. Collecting data with enough sensitivity at this spectrum is difficult. Since water absorbs and scatters light...
What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research? What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research?
The Spectral Characteristics Viewer is an interactive tool that can be used to visualize how the bands, or channels, of different satellite sensors measure the intensity of the many wavelengths (colors) of light. This is also known as the relative spectral response (RSR). By overlaying the spectral curves from different features (spectra), one can determine which bands of the selected sensor will...
Why do Landsat 7 Level-1 products contain two thermal bands? Why do Landsat 7 Level-1 products contain two thermal bands?
Landsat 7 acquired thermal data in two bands from one detector in both high (Band 6H) and low (Band 6L) gain. The difference in gain settings is important to different types of studies (i.e., clouds vs. deserts). Aside from the resolution differences and saturation on the high and low ends, the two bands provide the same Digital Numbers (DN) for every pixel. FILE_NAME_BAND_6_VCID_1 (band 61 or 6L)...
Can Landsat Collection Real-Time scenes be used in my research? 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...
How do I search for and download Landsat data? 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 is the percentage of cloud cover calculated in a Landsat scene? How is the percentage of cloud cover calculated in a Landsat scene?
The C Function of Mask (CFMask) algorithm is used in Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data processing. This algorithm provides a full-image “Scene Cloud Cover” estimation of the percentage of cloud cover calculated over an entire Landsat scene. Land Cloud Cover, which is also included, is determined by calculating the percentage of clouds over land-only pixels in a scene using a mask that...
How do I rescale Landsat Level-1 digital numbers to reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature? How do I rescale Landsat Level-1 digital numbers to reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature?
Landsat Level-1 data can be rescaled to the top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and/or radiance using radiometric rescaling coefficients provided in the metadata file (MTL.txt) that is delivered with the Landsat Level-1 product. The MTL file also contains the thermal constants needed to convert thermal band data to TOA brightness temperature (BT). Formulas for these conversions are at Using the...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles) in a 185 kilometer (115 miles) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit. Each satellite makes a complete orbit every 99 minutes, completes about 14 full orbits each day, and crosses every point on Earth once every 16 days. The satellite orbits...
What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites? What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites?
The sensors onboard each of the Landsat satellites were designed to acquire data in different wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum. View Bandpass Wavelengths for all Landsat Sensors The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) carried on Landsat 1,2,3,4 and 5 collected data in four ranges (bands); the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor on Landsat 4 and Landsat 5 included those bands found on earlier...
Landsat 8 Image of Snowfall in Houston, Texas
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Winter Storm Enzo brought an exceptionally rare snowfall to the Greater Houston metro area of Texas. The National Weather Service reported 5.5 inches (14 cm) in Baytown, a city located east of Houston on the northern shore of Galveston Bay. Other cities and locales received upwards of 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm).
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of Louisiana
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of LouisianaLouisiana is home to numerous salt domes, including the five distinct coastal salt dome islands that can be found in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of America. Formed by the upward pressure of ancient salt deposits, these hills rise above the surrounding marshes and coastal plains of Louisiana.
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of Louisiana
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of LouisianaLouisiana is home to numerous salt domes, including the five distinct coastal salt dome islands that can be found in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of America. Formed by the upward pressure of ancient salt deposits, these hills rise above the surrounding marshes and coastal plains of Louisiana.
Landsat 8 Image of the Massachusetts Coast
Landsat 8 image of the Massachusetts Coast, showing Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod.
Published on social media on November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving.
Mosaic of two different Landsat 8 images:
Image dates: November 8 and 17, 2024
Path 11, Row 31 and Path 12, Row 31
Landsat 8 image of the Massachusetts Coast, showing Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod.
Published on social media on November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving.
Mosaic of two different Landsat 8 images:
Image dates: November 8 and 17, 2024
Path 11, Row 31 and Path 12, Row 31
Landsat 8 image of the Salton Sea 2023
This Landsat 8 image shows the Salton Sea and surrounding area in California.
Landsat 8
Path 39 Row 37
October 18, 2023
Bands 6,5,4
This Landsat 8 image shows the Salton Sea and surrounding area in California.
Landsat 8
Path 39 Row 37
October 18, 2023
Bands 6,5,4
Landsat Collections
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Artist concept of Landsat 8
Artist's concept of Landsat 8 orbting the Earth.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Artist's concept of Landsat 8 orbting the Earth.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Landsat Collections — What are Tiers?
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 8 Collects 1 Millionth Scene
Landsat 8 collects it's 1 millionth scene. See it for yourself!
Landsat 8 collects it's 1 millionth scene. See it for yourself!
Anatomy of Landsat 8
Have you ever wondered what all the parts of a satellite do? This video identifies a few of the main components onboard Landsat 8 and tells you about their role in flying the satellite and capturing images of the Earth's surface below. Learn more about USGS Landsat.
Have you ever wondered what all the parts of a satellite do? This video identifies a few of the main components onboard Landsat 8 and tells you about their role in flying the satellite and capturing images of the Earth's surface below. Learn more about USGS Landsat.
Landsat 8 Swath Animation
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
Related
How is the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Coastal/Aerosol Band 1 used? How is the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Coastal/Aerosol Band 1 used?
The Operational Land Imager Band 1 ( 0.433-0.453 µm) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 is useful for imaging shallow water and tracking fine atmospheric particles like dust and smoke. Band 1 reflects blues and violets, where light is scattered by dust, smoke, and water particles in the air. Collecting data with enough sensitivity at this spectrum is difficult. Since water absorbs and scatters light...
What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research? What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research?
The Spectral Characteristics Viewer is an interactive tool that can be used to visualize how the bands, or channels, of different satellite sensors measure the intensity of the many wavelengths (colors) of light. This is also known as the relative spectral response (RSR). By overlaying the spectral curves from different features (spectra), one can determine which bands of the selected sensor will...
Why do Landsat 7 Level-1 products contain two thermal bands? Why do Landsat 7 Level-1 products contain two thermal bands?
Landsat 7 acquired thermal data in two bands from one detector in both high (Band 6H) and low (Band 6L) gain. The difference in gain settings is important to different types of studies (i.e., clouds vs. deserts). Aside from the resolution differences and saturation on the high and low ends, the two bands provide the same Digital Numbers (DN) for every pixel. FILE_NAME_BAND_6_VCID_1 (band 61 or 6L)...
Can Landsat Collection Real-Time scenes be used in my research? 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...
How do I search for and download Landsat data? 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 is the percentage of cloud cover calculated in a Landsat scene? How is the percentage of cloud cover calculated in a Landsat scene?
The C Function of Mask (CFMask) algorithm is used in Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 data processing. This algorithm provides a full-image “Scene Cloud Cover” estimation of the percentage of cloud cover calculated over an entire Landsat scene. Land Cloud Cover, which is also included, is determined by calculating the percentage of clouds over land-only pixels in a scene using a mask that...
How do I rescale Landsat Level-1 digital numbers to reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature? How do I rescale Landsat Level-1 digital numbers to reflectance, radiance, and brightness temperature?
Landsat Level-1 data can be rescaled to the top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and/or radiance using radiometric rescaling coefficients provided in the metadata file (MTL.txt) that is delivered with the Landsat Level-1 product. The MTL file also contains the thermal constants needed to convert thermal band data to TOA brightness temperature (BT). Formulas for these conversions are at Using the...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles) in a 185 kilometer (115 miles) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit. Each satellite makes a complete orbit every 99 minutes, completes about 14 full orbits each day, and crosses every point on Earth once every 16 days. The satellite orbits...
What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites? What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites?
The sensors onboard each of the Landsat satellites were designed to acquire data in different wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum. View Bandpass Wavelengths for all Landsat Sensors The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) carried on Landsat 1,2,3,4 and 5 collected data in four ranges (bands); the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor on Landsat 4 and Landsat 5 included those bands found on earlier...
Landsat 8 Image of Snowfall in Houston, Texas
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Winter Storm Enzo brought an exceptionally rare snowfall to the Greater Houston metro area of Texas. The National Weather Service reported 5.5 inches (14 cm) in Baytown, a city located east of Houston on the northern shore of Galveston Bay. Other cities and locales received upwards of 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm).
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Winter Storm Enzo brought an exceptionally rare snowfall to the Greater Houston metro area of Texas. The National Weather Service reported 5.5 inches (14 cm) in Baytown, a city located east of Houston on the northern shore of Galveston Bay. Other cities and locales received upwards of 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm).
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of Louisiana
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of LouisianaLouisiana is home to numerous salt domes, including the five distinct coastal salt dome islands that can be found in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of America. Formed by the upward pressure of ancient salt deposits, these hills rise above the surrounding marshes and coastal plains of Louisiana.
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of Louisiana
Landsat 8 Image of the Salt Dome Islands of LouisianaLouisiana is home to numerous salt domes, including the five distinct coastal salt dome islands that can be found in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of America. Formed by the upward pressure of ancient salt deposits, these hills rise above the surrounding marshes and coastal plains of Louisiana.
Landsat 8 Image of the Massachusetts Coast
Landsat 8 image of the Massachusetts Coast, showing Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod.
Published on social media on November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving.
Mosaic of two different Landsat 8 images:
Image dates: November 8 and 17, 2024
Path 11, Row 31 and Path 12, Row 31
Landsat 8 image of the Massachusetts Coast, showing Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod.
Published on social media on November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving.
Mosaic of two different Landsat 8 images:
Image dates: November 8 and 17, 2024
Path 11, Row 31 and Path 12, Row 31
Landsat 8 image of the Salton Sea 2023
This Landsat 8 image shows the Salton Sea and surrounding area in California.
Landsat 8
Path 39 Row 37
October 18, 2023
Bands 6,5,4
This Landsat 8 image shows the Salton Sea and surrounding area in California.
Landsat 8
Path 39 Row 37
October 18, 2023
Bands 6,5,4
Landsat Collections
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Artist concept of Landsat 8
Artist's concept of Landsat 8 orbting the Earth.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Artist's concept of Landsat 8 orbting the Earth.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Landsat Collections — What are Tiers?
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 8 Collects 1 Millionth Scene
Landsat 8 collects it's 1 millionth scene. See it for yourself!
Landsat 8 collects it's 1 millionth scene. See it for yourself!
Anatomy of Landsat 8
Have you ever wondered what all the parts of a satellite do? This video identifies a few of the main components onboard Landsat 8 and tells you about their role in flying the satellite and capturing images of the Earth's surface below. Learn more about USGS Landsat.
Have you ever wondered what all the parts of a satellite do? This video identifies a few of the main components onboard Landsat 8 and tells you about their role in flying the satellite and capturing images of the Earth's surface below. Learn more about USGS Landsat.
Landsat 8 Swath Animation
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
Updated Date: February 13, 2025