The NASA Landsat Science and Outreach teams arrived at the 2024 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (AGU24) to share exciting new applications, educate scientists and policymakers about Landsat, and see how Landsat data is being used by researchers around the world. The conference—the largest annual gathering of Earth and space scientists worldwide—was held this year in Washington, DC, from December 9-13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Each year, the conference convenes more than 25,000 scientists, educators, policymakers, and journalists from over 100 countries.
Attendees at AGU24 gathered under the theme “What’s Next for Science.” In keeping with that theme, Landsat 8 and 9 Project Scientist Chris Neigh convened an oral session titled “Emerging Science Applications of Landsat Data.” Eight researchers presented at the session. Bruce Cook and Thomas Holmes, Landsat Next project scientist and deputy project scientist respectively, presented about the exciting possibilities of Landsat Next’s 26 bands and increased temporal and spatial resolution. Among the other presenters were Nima Pahlevan, a program manager at NASA who spoke about how Landsat advances aquatic science, and Madhu Sridhar, a research scientist at NASA IMPACT who presented about Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) data. Neigh also convened a poster session in which 20 researchers shared posters of their work.
Landsat could be found throughout the poster hall and in many oral sessions. There were 571 presentations that mentioned Landsat in the title or abstract, with applications ranging from hydrology to the cryosphere. Many researchers used Landsat in combination with Sentinel-2. Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) data, a seamless surface reflectance product generated by NASA, was mentioned in 62 presentations. Researchers also frequently used Landsat in collaboration with ICESat-2, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) data. In many research presentations, Landsat’s long data record served as a foundation for analyses of change over time.
NASA had a robust presence at the AGU24 exhibit hall, complete with Hyperwall presentations, hands-on activities, and Q&As with subject matter experts. Landsat outreach specialist Allison Nussbaum explained how scientists can study land surfaces by combining Landsat data with GEDI data. She also exhibited examples of how Landsat studies freshwater along with data from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM). Aruna Miller, the lieutenant governor of Maryland, visited the NASA Earth booth and was excited to learn how Landsat data contributed to studies of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
Visitors to the NASA exhibit booth walked away with glossy postcards with beautiful Landsat imagery. Nussbaum also handed out bookmarks for the Landsat’s Enduring Legacy book made freely available through ASPRS. Case studies books were also available, featuring the uses of a half-century of Landsat data including forest management, bathymetry, agriculture, water, climate, and fire management.
Look out for new Q&As in the next few weeks to learn more about some of the scientists, researchers, and students who are using Landsat in their research.
