• Product Description
• Price
• Global Land Survey
• Search & Order

Landsat 5 TM scene
(Great Lakes, U.S.-Canada border)

back to Satellite Product List

Product Description

The Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data collection consists of a global set of high-quality, relatively cloud-free orthorectified MSS, TM and ETM+ imagery from Landsats 1-5 and 7. This dataset was selected and generated through NASA's Commercial Remote Sensing Program, as part of a cooperative effort between NASA and the commercial remote sensing community to provide users with access to quality-screened, high-resolution satellite images with global coverage over the Earth's land masses. The data collection was compiled via NASA contract with Earth Satellite Corporation (Rockville, MD) in association with NASA's Scientific Data Purchase program.

The Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data collection consists of approximately 7,500 MSS (Landsat 1-5) images, 7,461 TM (Landsat 4-5) images and approximately 8,500 ETM+ (Landsat 7) images, which were selected to provide three full sets of global coverage over an approximate 25-year interval (circa 1975, circa 1990 and circa 2000). All selected images were either cloud-free or contained minimal cloud cover. In addition, only images with a high quality ranking in regards to the possible presence of errors such as missing scans or saturated bands were selected.

The following data products are available from the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data collection:

• Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified MSS

  The average acquisition date for the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified MSS data is in the mid-1970s relative to a 1990 acquisition baseline for the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified TM images. +/-3 years of the 1990 baseline). However, individual scenes range from 1972 to 1987. These Landsat data were orthorectified, using geodetic and elevation control data to correct for positional accuracy and relief displacement. Large blocks of Landsat data were adjusted through a patented procedure that uses pixel correlation to acquire tie-points within the overlap area between adjacent Landsat images.

• Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified TM

  The average acquisition date for the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified TM data is 1990 (+/- 3 years). However, individual scenes range from 1985 to 1996. These Landsat data have been orthorectified, using geodetic and elevation control data to correct for positional accuracy and relief displacement. Large blocks of Landsat data were adjusted through a patented procedure using pixel correlation to acquire tie-points within the overlap area between adjacent Landsat images.

• Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified ETM+

  The average acquisition date for the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified ETM+ data is 2000 (+/- 1 year). All scenes were acquired between 1999 and 2001. These data have been orthorectified for co-registration with the earlier (circa 1990) Landsat TM coverage.

• Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified ETM+ Pan-sharpened

  These data products consist of pan-sharpened versions of the ETM+ scenes above. The pan-sharpening process involved a resolution merging process, which allows the fusion of the higher-resolution panchromatic band (8) with selected lower-resolution multispectral bands (7,4,2) to create a higher-resolution ("pan-sharpened") color image.

All Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data products have been pre-processed according to a standardized set of processing parameters. The processing parameters, format, and media options will vary slightly according to product type:

Additional Information:

• Product Information (NASA Science Data Purchase)
• Tri-Decadal Global Orthorectified Data Set Description (PDF file)
• EarthSat GeoCover™ Homepage

Back to Top

Price

• Handling Charge
• International Shipping
• Product Return Policy

Back to Top

Global Land Survey

In the past, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaborated on the creation of three global land data sets from Landsat data: one from the 1970s, and one each from circa 1990 and 2000. Each of these global data sets was created from the primary Landsat sensor in use at the time: the Multispectral Scanner in the 1970s, the Thematic Mapper (TM) in 1990, and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) in 2000.

To extend this multi-decadal Landsat data collection, NASA and the USGS have again partnered to develop the Mid-Decadal Global Land Survey (MDGLS), a new global land data set with core acquisition dates of 2005-2006. The data to be included will consist of both Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery, making MDGLS the first-ever global data set built with data from two sensors.

Direct downlink to a ground station is the only way to acquire Landsat 5 TM data, because unlike Landsat 7, the Landsat 5 satellite does not have an onboard solid-state recorder. To obtain Landsat 5 TM imagery for areas outside the United States, the USGS negotiated agreements with ground stations around the globe to downlink and send data to the USGS Landsat Ground Station. These agreements make thousands of additional Landsat 5 TM scenes available for MDGLS consideration.

The USGS Landsat Ground Station archives nearly 100,000 new Landsat 7 ETM+ images every year. These images are a record of nearly all the land area on Earth. The Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 5 TM data incorporated into the MGDLS dataset must meet quality and cloud cover standards. Data recorded in 2004 and 2007 will be used only as needed to fill areas of low image quality or excessive cloud cover.

Landsat 7 ETM+ scenes from the Mid-Decadal Global Land Survey will be available beginning in late 2007. The MDGLS data set will be only scene-based (other decadal datasets also included mosaics), and individual scenes will be made available as they are processed. Landsat 5 TM scenes will not be available until late 2008.

http://landsat.usgs.gov/project_facts/mid_decadal.php

The Global Land Survey data collection is a new version of the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified Dataset, which was reprocessed using updated algorithms along with a new product created by the Landsat program titled Global Land Survey 2005 (GLS 2005). This data was acquired around the 2005 timeframe and corrected to the Global Land Survey 2000 data.

The following data products are available from the Global Land Survey data collection:

• GLS 2000 (Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified ETM+ update)
• GLS 2005

The average acquisition date for the GLS 2005 is 2005 (+/- 3 years).

All scenes were acquired between 2004 and 2007. The GLS 2000 data was used to correct this dataset.

GLS 2005 will continue to grow as we complete this collection.

Back to Top

Search & Order

Global Land Survey 2000 and 2005 datasets are available to search and download through EarthExplorer and GloVis.

Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified MSS, TM and ETM+ data can be searched and ordered from GloVis and EarthExplorer.

Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified MSS, TM and ETM+ data are also available for download from the above Web sites, in a compressed and tarred format. Users are recommended to download only one scene per session. If higher quantities are needed, order on media at a nominal cost.

Note: The full Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data collection selection consisted of approximately 7,500 MSS (Landsat 1-5), 7,461 TM (Landsat 4-5) and 8,500 ETM+ (Landsat 7) images. However, not all of these images are currently available for search and order from EROS at this time. Users will need to run a search to determine the scene availability for any given location.

Back to Top

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://eros.usgs.gov/
Page Contact Information: custserv@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: August 22, 2006