In 1972, the US government launched the satellite that would become known as Landsat 1. Eight missions and more than 50 years later, Landsat satellites still orbit Earth. In that time, these satellites have produced more than 10 million images of our planet. This unparalleled time series of imagery enables us to see and measure how Earth has changed in five decades.
But working with this much data can be daunting. The map below from Esri lets you interactively explore 40 years of multispectral Landsat imagery. It provides a series of filters, bookmarks, and tools to help you find, use, and analyze the data.
In Dynamic mode, you can browse the most recent, cloud-free imagery across a series of renderers, such as natural color or shortwave infrared (IR). The map curates a few notable points of interest like the Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru or Gosses Bluff in Australia that showcase the imagery.
Even better, you can filter by time, cloud cover, and Landsat mission (note: Landsat 6 failed to reach orbit). As you find scenes matching your criteria, you can confirm their acquisition date, sensor type, and other details. But the true power of the map is revealed when you start exploring these images together.
With the Swipe and Animate tabs, you can define multiple scenes to compare them and play them back. You can see how wildfires transform landscapes in the short term and how human development does the same over greater periods of time. Through these images, you can replay history.
The map also includes analytical tools to quantify changes over time. For example, you can see how development in Orlando, Florida, influenced changing land surface temperatures. There’s even a tool that calculates the difference between two selected images.
Since its inception, the Landsat program has helped scientists understand how Earth is changing. It’s even helped us find new places on our planet. This map builds on that foundation of science and empowers anyone to access and use the imagery Landsat has produced.
More to Explore
- Learn more about this interactive map and get tips for using some of its analysis tools.
- Take a deep dive into creating animations with this interactive map.
- Browse 50 years of science with Landsat.
