Science Technology
Science Technology
What is Landsat definitive ephemeris?
Definitive Ephemeris is used for geometrically correcting Landsat 7 data and providing improved accuracy over predicted ephemeris. Learn more (and download DE files): Landsat Definitive Ephemeris
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 are Landsat Bias Parameter Files?
Landsat Bias Parameter Files (BPFs) supply radiometric correction parameters that are applied during Level-1 processing of Landsat data. Learn more (and search for BPF files): Landsat Bias Parameter
What are Landsat Response Linearization Look Up Tables?
Landsat Response Linearization Look Up Tables (RLUT) are additional files that accompany Calibration Parameter Files (CPFs) and contain a mapping lookup table to linearize the output of the Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager (OLI) detectors. Learn more (and download RLUT files): Landsat Response Linearization Look Up Tables
What are Landsat Calibration Parameter Files?
Landsat Calibration Parameter Files (CPFs) provide radiometric and geometric coefficients needed for processing of raw, uncorrected Landsat image data into Level-1 data products. Over 15,000 coefficients are issued to span distinct timeframes and are updated with improved calibration coefficients. CPFs are often updated with improved coefficients. Learn more (and search CPF files): Landsat...
How is the C Function of Mask algorithm used with Landsat Level-1 data?
The C Function of Mask (CFMask) algorithm populates cloud, cloud confidence, cloud shadow, and snow/ice pixels in the processing of Landsat Collections Level-1 data products, with the results represented as bit-mapped values within the Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 Quality Assessment (QA) Band . CFMask derives from the Function of Mask (FMask), an algorithm written in MATLAB at Boston University...
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 is the Landsat Collections Angle Coefficient file and how is it used?
Use the senor viewing angle model coefficients in the Landsat Collection 2 Angle Coefficient files to create angle bands and to compute the solar and senor viewing angles on a per-pixel basis. Learn more: Solar Illumination and Sensor Viewing Angle Coefficient Files
Does the Landsat 7 Scan Line Corrector (SLC)-off artifact affect Landsat Collections tier designation?
The Landsat 7 SLC-off artifact does not change how the data are placed into Landsat Collection tiers, as tier classifications are determined by the radiometric and geometric accuracy of each scene. Learn more: Landsat Collections Landsat Data Access
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...
I have a list of historical Landsat Level-1 Scene IDs; how can I determine the corresponding Landsat Collections Level-1 Product Identifier?
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...
Are all acquired Landsat scenes held in the USGS Landsat archive?
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...