Landsat

Landsat is a scientific satellite program that provides imagery and data about Earth’s land surface. The Landsat program is managed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and began in 1972 with the launch of the first Landsat satellite, Landsat 1. Since then, eight more Landsat satellites have been launched, most recently Landsat 8 in 2013. The images and data collected by these satellites are used for a variety of applications, including agricultural monitoring, disaster relief, mapping, and urban planning.

The Landsat satellites are equipped with sensors that collect different types of information about Earth’s surface. This includes visible light (which can be used to create false-color images), near-infrared light (which can be used to detect vegetation), thermal infrared (which can be used to measure temperature), and shortwave-infrared ( which can be used to penetrate clouds). This information is transmitted back to Earth, where it is received by ground stations and then made available to scientists and researchers.

Landsat data has been used for a wide range of scientific studies. For example, it has been used to map deforestation in the Amazon rainforest , study glacier retreat in Greenland , monitor crop growth in the Midwest United States , track urban expansion in China ,and map coral reefs around the world . The data from Landsat 8 is freely available online , making it possible for anyone with an internet connection to explore and use this valuable resource.