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EarthNow!
The surface of the Earth is changing rapidly, at local, regional, national, even global scales, with significant repercussions for people, the economy, and the environment. Remote sensing satellites and aircraft monitor the Earth providing information that is broad, precise, impartial, and easily available. In addition to operating two remote sensing satellites Landsat 5 and Landsat 7, USGS provides the Nation's portal to the largest archive of remotely sensed land data in the world, supplying continuous access to current and historical land images worldwide. These images serve many purposes from assessing the impact of natural disasters to monitoring global agricultural production, from monitoring the impact of climate and other global changes to supporting national defense.

The LRS Program is defined by three major components:

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USGS Scientists Survey Users of Moderate-Resolution Satellite Imagery
Released: 10/01/2009
Understanding the benefits and value of the imagery provided by moderate-resolution satellites, such as Landsat, is essential as future land-imaging initiatives move forward. To identify the importance of these images, USGS researchers are conducting a comprehensive, Web-based survey of nearly 4,000 moderate-resolution imagery users. The survey, initiated by the USGS Land Remote Sensing Program, is the most comprehensive assessment of users and uses of moderate-resolution imagery to date. Survey recipients were selected using a unique “snowballing” method to identify a cross-section of professional users across all sectors (government, academic, private, nonprofit). The survey aims to (1) identify and classify the breadth and depth of the users and uses of moderate-resolution imagery, and (2) understand the importance and value of Landsat imagery in decision making. The study will also summarize the financial impacts on users and their work if Landsat imagery, currently available at no cost, were not available, and assess their willingness to pay for replacement imagery. Results will be relevant to government, academia, and private industry because they will establish a baseline understanding of professional users as well as the value and uses of satellite imagery in their work. In particular, managers in the USGS Land Remote Sensing Program will use these results to support their efforts to ensure data continuity, better serve users, and augment Landsat benefits. The survey will be launched later this month, with results expected in early 2010.

New Bulk Download Tool for Landsat Free Data
Released: 09/30/2009
For the first 1.1 million free Landsat scenes, users had to download one scene at a time. The Landsat Project has developed a bulk download tool so users can more easily download entire lists. After uploading a list of Landsat Scene IDs, scenes that are available on-line can be immediately downloaded. For those scenes that need to be processed, a link is provided directly into our EarthExplorer ordering system (there is no charge for processing). GloVis, EarthExplorer, or user-generated Landsat Scene ID lists can be used. Read More...

Landsat Plays Key Role in Water-Use Maps
Released:
Data from earth-observing Landsat satellites play a central role in a new, award-winning type of mapping that tracks water use. Water-use maps help save taxpayer money by increasing the accuracy and effectiveness of public decisions involving water – for instance, in monitoring compliance with legal water rights. The maps are especially important in dry western states where irrigated agriculture accounts for about 85 percent of all water consumption. Read More...

USGS Releases Remote Sensing Data on Annual Biological Cycles: Salazar Announces Satellite Data on Nature's Timing Can Help Track Climate Change
Released: 09/08/2009
The USGS has made its long-term historical remote sensing data and graphics about biological life-cycle events available to the public at no charge on the web, Secretary of the Interior Salazar announced today. Read more...

Free Landsat Scenes Go Public by the Million
Released: 08/20/2009
On August 17, someone who wanted to see how the Earth looks from 440 miles away in space downloaded the one-millionth Landsat satellite image scene from a U.S. Geological Survey web site at its Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Since the USGS opened its full Landsat archive to user access at no charge last October, the response from across the nation and around the globe has grown exponentially. Read more...

Landsat 5 is back in business!
Released: 08/20/2009
The USGS Landsat 5 Flight Operations Team (FOT) successfully restored the 25-year old spacecraft to full operations Friday afternoon, following Thursday morning's serious incident, in which the spacecraft was tumbling out of control. Imagery data was collected and downlinked from the spacecraft over the weekend, and EROS engineers have validated the quality of the data. The Landsat 5 spacecraft is now back in its normal operational mode, routinely collecting and downlinking imagery data to the U.S. and its International Cooperators. The FOT is investigating potential causes of the incident; there are many possibilities, and a final report is not expected for several weeks. Read more...

Landsat 5 Anomaly
Released: 08/13/2009
Landsat 5 experienced an anomaly in the early morning hours of August 13, 2009. The Flight Operations Team (FOT) is assessing the problem and testing spacecraft systems. No imaging will occur until further notice. Read more...

USGS Played Crucial Role in Moon Landing, Apollo Program
Released: 07/20/2009
U.S. Geological Survey scientists and cartographers played an important but relatively unknown role during the Apollo 11 moon landing 40 years ago this week. Read more...

USGS Astrogeologists Contribute to "Moon in Google Earth"
Released: 07/20/2009
Astrogeologists at the U.S. Geological Survey here provided critical data sets used in the latest release of planetary exploration tools from Google, Inc. The updated software enables users to explore the moon in high detail, including the Apollo 11 landing site. Read more...

Information Derived from Classified Materials Aids Understanding of Changing Climate
Released: 07/17/2009
Images derived from classified materials are now available to the public through the US Geological Survey's website to support environmental analysis of global climate-related science, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today. Read more...

USGS Releases Remote Sensing Data on Annual Biological Cycles
Released: 07/08/2009
Interior Secretary Salazar Announces Satellite Data on Nature's Timing Can Help Track Climate Change. The USGS long-term historical remote sensing data and graphics about biological life-cycle events is now available to the public at no charge on the web.Read more...

Pinpointing Drought Coast to Coast
Released: 06/24/2009
Take vast quantities of satellite remote sensing data. Season with time. Mix generously with information about climate, soils, and recent rainfall. These are the ingredients for the Vegetation Drought Response Index. Read more...




Visit the Latest Archive page for information highlighted here in the past.

Featured Science

Eagerly awaiting Landsat 8

OLI OverviewThe Earth Imaging Journal recently featured an article about a launch of vital importance to the global Earth observation science community in December 2012. The joint NASA/USGS Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) was created to investigate and research options for the most feasible solution to follow the Landsat 7 mission. NASA is acquiring the spacecraft to collect and provide data to DOI/USGS. The USGS is responsible for the operations of this mission, along with collecting, archiving, processing, and distributing the data to the U.S. Government and other users. The Landsat Science Team has been established to address the science goals of the mission. NASA and the USGS plan to implement LDCM in a manner that does not preclude a long-term solution for continuity of Landsat-type data. OLI Instrument   Learn more


Tracking Nature's Cycles

Remote Sensing Phenology

Phenology is the study of recurring biological cycles such as plant budding and animal migrations. The earliest known phenological records were compiled by the Chinese approximately 1000 BC. Today, USGS Remote Sensing Phenology scientists use satellites to track seasonal changes in vegetation on regional, continental, and global scales. Remotely sensed phenological data are useful for assessing crop conditions, drought severity, and wildfire risk as well as tracking invasive species, infectious diseases, and insect pests. Because phenological events are sensitive to climate variation, these data also represent a powerful tool for documenting phenological trends over time and detecting the impacts of climate change on ecosystems at multiple scales. Learn more...

Visit the Latest Archive page for information highlighted here in the past.


Satellite images of Southern California wildfire and link to larger view
The White House has initiated a year-long study called The Future of Land Imaging to explore options for United States operational use of satellites to better serve society. The USGS serves on the leadership team of this Federal interagency working group.

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Page Last Modified: October 23, 2009