Landsat’s Role in Managing Water Resources
Water is essential for life. A third of Earth’s populace has unreliable access to clean water. With current population growth and environmental trends, the U.N. Environmental Program estimates that 1.8 billion people will face water scarcity by 2025. Water means survival for people and other species we rely upon to thrive, making proper stewardship of our water resources vital. Good decisions require good data. Since 1972 the Landsat series of satellites has been providing such data. Landsat-based decisions on how to manage limited water resources have impacted millions of people worldwide. From finding water for refugees in arid nations to reducing pollution in our national waterways, Landsat enables decisions that directly help people.
Researchers Caution Use of Landsat’s Land-Specific Surface Reflectance Products for Long-Term Water Quality Studies
While floating algae, emergent aquatic vegetation, and historic surface scum can be tracked throughout the Landsat record, researchers warn data users that older Landsat sensors lack the precision needed to be used for water-column studies.
Above the Earth, Below the Surface: Landsat’s Role in Monitoring Water Quality
Safeguarding freshwater resources is crucial, and while scientists use a variety of ground-based techniques to gauge water quality, the Landsat program has provided water quality data from orbit for decades.
Satellite Data Helps Bangladeshi Farmers Save Water, Money, Energy
Satellite data are providing information to Bangladeshi farmers about how much water they are using, how much they have, and how much their crops need.
Researchers Become “Beaver Believers” After Measuring the Impacts of Rewilding
Satellites like Landsat are quantifying how beavers can have an outsized and positive impact on local ecosystems.
Landsat Insights: Wetland History in Your Hand
Practitioners managing the wellbeing of wetlands have a new tool at their disposal. The Wetland Insight Tool, developed by Geoscience Australia, provides a visual summary of 35+ years of wetland dynamics.
Ten Years of TIRS: Data for a Thirsty World
Landsat 8 very nearly flew without a thermal infrared sensor. This is the backstory of how TIRS made it onto Landsat 8.
