Landsat Science Products Overview

The USGS has developed Landsat science products to streamline data processing and provide high-quality information for monitoring Earth's surface changes. These products, available for the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii from 1982 to present, include surface reflectance, surface temperature, dynamic surface water extent, fractional snow-covered area, and burned area. Each product serves specific purposes, such as improving land observation comparisons, monitoring vegetation health, and assessing water and fire impacts. All products are available for free download from the USGS.

What is the primary goal of the Landsat science products developed by the USGS?

• To replace all other satellite data

• To reduce data processing time and offer research-quality information

• To provide entertainment content

• To increase the complexity of data processing

Which regions are covered by the Landsat science products?

• Only the continental United States

• The entire world

• The conterminous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii

• Only Alaska and Hawaii

What does the Landsat surface reflectance product measure?

• The speed of wind currents

• The amount of rainfall in a region

• The fraction of incoming solar radiation reflected from the Earth's surface

• The temperature of the Earth's core

How does the surface reflectance product improve data comparison?

• By using only nighttime data

• By focusing only on urban areas

• By accounting for atmospheric effects like aerosols and thin clouds

• By ignoring atmospheric effects

What is the significance of the Landsat surface temperature product?

• It is crucial for energy balance and hydrologic modeling

• It measures the Earth's surface temperature in Celsius

• It is used to track animal migration

• It only monitors ocean temperatures

What information does the dynamic surface water extent product provide?

• The depth of oceans

• The temperature of lakes

• The existence and condition of surface water

• The amount of snowfall in a region

How does the fractional snow-covered area product assist researchers?

• By tracking snowball fights

• By predicting future snowfall

• By providing maps of snow cover patterns in mountainous regions

• By measuring the temperature of snow

What is the purpose of the Landsat burned area product?

• To predict volcanic eruptions

• To track forest growth

• To identify fire locations and quantify trends

• To measure the temperature of fires

In what ways are Landsat products used in urban areas?

• To track traffic patterns

• To measure air pollution

• To monitor urban heat island effects

• To map city boundaries

Where can one download Landsat science products?

• From private satellite companies

• From a paid subscription service

• From local government offices

• Directly from the USGS at no charge