Science Technology
Science Technology
How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene?
Landsat descending (daytime) acquisitions run from north to south; they cross the equator between 10:00 am and 10:25 am local time on each pass to provide maximum illumination. The exact acquisition start and stop times for each scene are listed in the metadata file that is included in the Landsat Level-1 product, and also displayed on EarthExplorer , GloVis and the LandsatLook Viewer . Landsat...
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-mile) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit, following the Worldwide Reference System (WRS-2) . Each satellite makes a complete orbit every 99 minutes, completes about 14 full orbits each day, and crosses every point on...
How do I search for and download ascending (nighttime) Landsat scenes?
Ascending (nighttime) WRS-2 Path/Row numbers are different from descending (daytime) Path/Rows. Cloud cover values for Landsat night scenes will always be zero. If you know the daytime path/row or coordinates and want to know the nighttime path/row, use the WRS-2 Path/Row to Latitude/Longitude Converter . Use EarthExplorer to search using path/row or coordinates: Access EarthExplorer. On the...
What is the naming convention for Landsat Collections Level-1 scenes?
The Landsat Collection 1 Level-1 product identifier includes the Collection processing levels, processing date, collection number, and collection tier category: LXSS_LLLL_PPPRRR_YYYYMMDD_yyyymmdd_CC_TX Where: L = Landsat X = Sensor (“C”=OLI/TIRS combined, “O”=OLI-only, “T”=TIRS-only, “E”=ETM+, “T”=“TM, “M”=MSS) SS = Satellite (”07”=Landsat 7, “08”=Landsat 8) LLL = Processing correction level (L1TP...
Does Landsat Level-1 data processing include atmospheric correction?
Landsat Level-1 data are not corrected for atmospheric conditions; however, Landsat Science Products are atmospherically corrected. Learn more: L andsat Level-1 data Landsat U.S. Analysis Ready Data Landsat Level-2 and Level-3 Science Products Landsat Data Access
What are the processing levels for Landsat Level-1 data?
The table below shows the Landsat Collections Level-1 processing levels: Landsat Level-1 Processing Levels Processing Level Description Terrain Precision Correction (L1TP) Radiometrically calibrated and orthorectified using ground control points (GCPs) and digital elevation model (DEM) data to correct for relief displacement.The highest quality Level-1 products suitable for pixel-level time series...
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 sensors does the Landsat 9 satellite carry?
Landsat 9 carries the same instruments that are on the Landsat 8 satellite but with some improvements: Operational Land Imager (OLI) for reflective band data. Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) for the thermal infrared bands. OLI has a slightly improved signal-to-noise ratio over Landsat 8's OLI. Landsat 9’s TIRS is a Class-B instrument with a five-year design life and a key improvement of stray light...
When was the Landsat 9 satellite launched?
Landsat 9—a partnership between the USGS and NASA—was launched from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California upon a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 launch vehicle on September 27, 2021. Learn more: Landsat 9 Mission
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...
Does the USGS need flight approval to operate uncrewed aircraft systems?
Yes, approval is required for operating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). The USGS receives flight approval from the Federal Aviation Administration prior to every UAS mission. The official document is referred to as a Certificate of Authorization and Waiver. It is the approval process by which the Federal Aviation Administration allows for public agencies to operate UAS in the National Airspace...
What does the USGS do with the information, pictures, and video collected by uncrewed aircraft systems?
All data collected by USGS uncrewed aircraft systems are processed and used in support of mission-specific research objectives. The vast majority of the resource management and scientific data will be archived for long-term use and placed in the public domain. Learn more: National Uncrewed Systems Office