Landsat Imagery


Data Access
Earth Science Data Inferface
Overview
Landsat (name indicating Land + Satellite) imagery is available since 1972 from six satellites in the Landsat series. These satellites have been a major component of NASA's Earth observation program, with three primary sensors evolving over thirty years: MSS (Multi-spectral Scanner), TM (Thematic Mapper), and ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus). Landsat supplies high resolution visible and infrared imagery, with thermal imagery and a panchromatic image also available from the ETM+ sensor. The collection of Landsat available through GLCF is designed to compliment overall project goals of distributing a global, multi-temporal, multi-spectral and multi-resolution range of imagery appropriate for land cover analysis.

Sensor
Satellite Sensor Spectral Range Band #s Scene Size Pixel Res
L 1-4 MSS multi-spectral 0.5 - 1.1 µm 1, 2, 3, 4 185 X 185 km 60 meter
L 4-5 TM multi-spectral 0.45 - 2.35 µm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 30 meter
L 4-5 TM thermal 10.40 - 12.50 µm 6 120 meter
L 7 ETM+ multi-spectral 0.450 - 2.35 µm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 30 meter
L 7 ETM+ thermal 10.40 – 12.50 µm 6.1, 6.2 60 meter
L 7 Panchromatic 0.52-0.90 µm 8 15 meter

How to Cite This Data Set
Citation Format: Author (Publication Date), Collection Name, Image Name, Processing Level, Publisher, Publisher Location, Product Coverage Date.

Citation Parameters Example:
  • Author: NASA Landsat Program {specify otherwise if processed outside USGS}
  • Publication Date: {specify processing date from metadata}
  • Collection Name: Landsat {specify ETM+, TM or MSS} scene
  • Image Name: {specify scene ID from file name or naming convention}
  • Processing Level: {specify as indicated in metadata, for instance: L1G, GeoCover, Orthorectified, Terrain Corrected, or SLC-Off}
  • Publisher: USGS {specify otherwise if processed outside USGS}
  • Publisher Location: Sioux Falls {specify otherwise if processed outside USGS}
  • Product Coverage Date: {specify acquisition date from metadata or naming convention}
Full Example Citation:NASA Landsat Program, 2003, Landsat ETM+ scene L71008058_05820031026, SLC-Off, USGS, Sioux Falls, 10/26/2003.

Intellectual Property Rights
Use is free to all; effectively held by USGS & NASA; but ultimately held by US public.

Source
As a courtesy, please credit the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF) as the source for this data set in some manner. Our suggestion: Source for this data set was the Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org.