USGS Landsat

AGU24 abstracts are due July 31! NASA and USGS scientists have organized a session that focuses on innovative uses of Landsat data that help meet societal needs. Has your research involved Landsat data or implemented Landsat data fusion models to enable scientific discovery? If so, consider submitting an abstract under Session B044 – Emerging Science Applications of Landsat Data. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/1bXc50SA6Gz

Be Part of What’s Next: Emerging Applications of Landsat at AGU24 Anyone making innovative use of Landsat data to meet societal needs today and during coming decades is encouraged to submit and abstract for the upcoming "Emerging Science Applications of Landsat" session at AGU24.

Happy Coral Reef Awareness Week! New Caledonia, a remote French oversees territory in the South Pacific Ocean, is surrounded by one of the most extensive reef systems in the world. The tropical lagoons and coral reefs feature an exceptional diversity of coral and fish species, several iconic and threatened marine species, and a continuum of habitats, from mangroves to seagrass ecosystems. This underwater crown jewel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 in recognition of its ecological value, biological diversity, and outstanding natural beauty.

Geoscience Australia is using over 35 years of the USGS Landsat archive to help understand mangroves and freshwater wetlands in Australia and Africa. These ecosystems have many positive effects on human well-being, biodiversity including food and water security, and reducing the impact of natural disasters. Their preservation is an important part of nature-based climate solutions.

Landsat data and Digital Earth technologies can help us understand the current condition of wetlands, the extent of the vegetation and how these have changed over time. These tools can also be layered with other data such as rainfall, climate, water observations and satellite imagery to help identify what might affect the changing condition and extent of wetlands and mangroves.

Explore how Geoscience Australia is working with Digital Earth Africa to apply Earth observation science through ’s Wetland’s Insight Tool and Mangrove Canopy Cover to support nature-based climate solutions.
👉 https://ow.ly/ZLfl50SFvoW

Final reminder! On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm CT, access to all data, including Landsat products archived at the USGS EROS Center, will be unavailable due to extended maintenance activities. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

On July 16, 1982, Landsat 4 was launched into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite was equipped with the familiar Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and a new sensor, the Thematic Mapper (TM), that provided sharper, more colorful views of the Earth. The advanced instrument offered higher spatial resolutions, seven spectral bands, and enhanced radiometric and geometric performance. At the time, Landsat 4 represented a new era of Earth observation and a progressive development of space technology. Learn more about Landsat 4 here: https://ow.ly/hcBU50SBZnL

On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm CT, access to all data, including Landsat products archived at the USGS EROS Center, will be unavailable due to extended maintenance activities. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

Abstracts for AGU24 are due by July 31, 2024! NASA and USGS scientists have organized a session that focuses on innovative uses of Landsat data that help meet societal needs. Has your research involved Landsat data or implemented Landsat data fusion models to enable scientific discovery? If so, consider submitting an abstract under Session B044 – Emerging Science Applications of Landsat Data. Learn more and submit an abstract here: https://ow.ly/1bXc50SA6Gz

A new Latest in Landsat is now available! In June, Raytheon Company was selected as the instrument contractor for Landsat Next. USGS scientists revealed a novel way to develop bathymetry models using Landsat data. Important partnerships with Norway and Germany were confirmed. National Ocean Month was celebrated by showcasing some beautiful Landsat images from the various Earth As Art collections. Check out the latest issue here: https://ow.ly/jcKT50Szgy8

With the Silver King Fire still raging, authorities have ordered the closure of a sizable portion of the U.S. Forest Service - Fishlake National Forest in southcentral Utah. Ignited by a lightning strike on July 5, the uncontained fire has rapidly spread across more than 11,200 acres due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. Residents in and near the historic town of Marysvale were evacuated as the fire crept within a few miles of cabins and homes. The Silver King Fire is the second major blaze to burn a portion of the Fishlake National Forest this summer. The Little Twist Fire near the town of Beaver, Utah, started as a prescribed burn, but the fire grew outside the controlled burn area and has spread across more than 5,000 acres since June 13.

Before becoming Acadia National Park in 1919, this land in Maine was originally established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916. 🏞️ Today, it’s one of the most visited parks in America.

8 acquired this image of the park in 2015.

https://go.nasa.gov/4eOIWrA

July is Lakes Appreciation Month—a great time to splash into a lake, appreciate their countless benefits, and raise awareness of the challenges facing them. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with an estimated six percent of the state being covered with water. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there are, in fact, 11,842 lakes scattered across the state that are greater than 10 acres in size. Otter Tail County in west-central Minnesota is a freshwater lake paradise. With more than 1,000 lakes within its borders, it is often touted as having more lakes than any other single county in the United States.

NOTICE! Newly acquired Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 products from June 28 to present are currently unavailable for download due to data access issues. We apologize for the interruption and appreciate your patience while we investigate and resolve the issue.

As June draws to a close, so does National Ocean Month! The entire month is dedicated to celebrating and appreciating our valuable oceans and their countless resources. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and hold about 96 percent of the planet’s water. They regulate the climate and are central to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. They contain an immense variety of life and remain one of the main repositories of the world’s biodiversity. Celebrate oceans by exploring some magnificent marine Earth As Art images: https://ow.ly/RX9750SpGwf

Torrential rainfall in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota has flooded riverways and communities, damaged property and infrastructure, and prompted evacuations and road closures. Areas southeast of Sioux Falls received more than 10 inches of precipitation within a three-day stretch, sending large volumes of water toward North Sioux City, South Dakota, and Sioux City, Iowa. The Big Sioux River in Sioux City crested at a new record level of 45 feet, several feet above the previous record of 37.7 feet.

Ayon Island in Russia’s Chukotka region is a large, remote expanse of low-lying tundra on the East Siberian Sea. This unique polar landmass is separated from the mainland by the Malyy Chaunskiy Strait in the southwest and the Sredniy Strait to the east. The small village of Ayon on the northwestern tip of the island is inhabited by the Chukchi, an indigenous group that has preserved their traditional way of life through reindeer husbandry and fishing. Download this icy Landsat 8 image of Ayon Island here: https://ow.ly/ov9G50SoBMX

Reminder Notice! The USGS EROS Science Processing Architecture (ESPA) On Demand Interface will be taken offline from June 26 to July 3, 2024, while engineers perform service activities. Please download any completed orders before 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Additional details can be found here: https://espa.cr.usgs.gov

Beauty is ocean deep 🌊

In Australia, tidal currents along the Kimberley coast stir up sediment from the seafloor and incoming water from rivers to create colorful swirls. Phytoplankton might also be contributing to the blue-green patterns in this 8 image.

Kimberley has been touted as having one of the world’s least human-impacted coastal zones. The remote area supports a large range of marine habitat types including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, which harbor a rich diversity of living things, such as fish, reptiles, marine mammals, and phytoplankton.


https://go.nasa.gov/3xD7fro

New Hampshire gained statehood on June 21, 1788, when it became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. Nicknamed the Granite State for its extensive granite formations and quarries, the state boasts stunning natural landscapes, including the famous White Mountains and Lakes Region. With more than 80 percent of the land area blanketed in forests, New Hampshire is the second most forested state in the nation. Since forests are an integral component of the state’s economy, agencies and land managers rely on Landsat data to help manage and monitor valuable forest resource. Learn more about how Landsat benefits the state of New Hampshire here: https://ow.ly/75AI50SmGlY

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the USGS EROS Science Processing Architecture (ESPA) On Demand Interface will be taken offline for one week while engineers perform service activities. Users are encouraged to download any completed orders before 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. During the service downtime, order entry and processing for Landsat Provisional Aquatic Reflectance and Actual Evapotranspiration products, as well as Spectral Indices, will not be available.

The ESPA On Demand Interface is planned to be back online for orders and product processing on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience. Additional details can be found here: https://espa.cr.usgs.gov

Landsat Next—a collaboration between the USGS and NASA—is on the horizon. Targeted for launch in the 2030/2031 timeframe, the new mission has achieved another milestone with the selection of the instrument contractor. Raytheon Company will design, engineer, fabricate, test, and deliver three Earth observing instruments. Landsat Next, a key component of the Sustainable Land Imaging program, will ensure the continuity and quality of the Landsat data record and provide expanded capabilities to support emerging applications in land, water, and climate science. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/ZtWE50Sl9tk

On June 8, a lightning strike ignited a wildfire in the Tanana Flats Military Training Area, located about 31 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The McDonald Fire quickly spread as gusty winds pushed flames through stands of black spruce. As the fire approached a group of cabins, firefighters, smokejumpers, and water scoopers were mobilized, and evacuation notices were issued. As of June 17, the blaze has burned more than 30,000 acres and continues to burn and smolder as winds push the fire north.

On June 11, 1980, Landsat 3 captured an image of a temporary art installation created by artist and sculptor Tom Van Sant. Known as Reflections from Earth, the giant human eye in the Mojave Desert of California was specifically designed to be seen by the Landsat satellites operating at the time. Composed of 90 carefully positioned mirrors, with 30 groups of three that were spaced 600 feet (183 m) apart, the 1.5-mile-wide (2.5 km) eye reflected sunlight and saturated image pixels. During the project, Van Sant worked closely with Alden Colvocoresses from the USGS, Stanley Freden from NASA, and William Evans from the Stanford Research Institute to calculate the angle settings for each mirror and plan for the Landsat image acquisition.