Earthshots

December 9, 2022

Explore the World with Earthshots

Explore Earthshots Virtually

Travel the world at your own pace and see changes to the Earth's surface in these satellite images of environmental transformation.

Explore the World

Download Earthshot Cards

Earthshots are before-and-after Landsat images (1972-present), showing recent environmental events and introducing the concept of remote sensing. Each set of images includes a detailed description, photographs and maps, a list of references, and a question/answer.

Download the Cards

Open the Earthshots Classroom

Each Earthshot card features a different location from around the world and explains the changes that the Landsat images reveal.

Visit the classroom

The U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center archives data from the Landsat satellites, which have been in operation from 1972 to the present. Earthshots presents environmental changes using Landsat images.

The surface of the Earth is always changing. Some changes like earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and landslides happen quickly, and other changes, such as most erosional processes, happen slowly over time. It’s often hard to see these changes from ground level. A much broader view is needed, and multiple views that provide a record of change over time are especially helpful. Earthshots shows you how satellite data are used to track these changes.

Video Transcript

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

The US Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, or "EROS" archive’s data from the LandSat satellites which have been in operation from 1972 to the present day. EarthShots presents environmental changes using Landsat images.

The Landsat series of Earth-observing satellites has acquired data for monitoring the planet’s landmasses since 1972. The vast archive containing millions of Landsat scenes is managed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The images displayed in Earthshots are examples of Landsat data that help scientists worldwide understand more about how both people and nature are changing the landscape. Each Earthshots page features a different location from around the world and explains the changes that the satellite images reveal.