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Colorful Composites A Logging in Oregon, USA story

Forests
  1. Logging in Oregon, USA
  2. Colorful Composites
Description

On Earthshots we typically show “multispectral composites”—single-date images that combine three different wavelengths into one image. The example used in this section shows a different combination of infrared wavelengths than was used on the 2016 image from the “Interpret the Images” section. In this image, the clearcuts are pink against the bright green of the forest. This combination of infrared wavelengths makes the clearcuts that have occurred from one year to the next stand out more clearly.

We don’t often examine change over time in one image. That’s what the colorful image in this section shows. It’s a “multitemporal composite”—one image that shows three different dates combined. This image shows a combination of Landsat images from 1994, 2009, and 2016. Red shows clearcuts that were evident in the 1994 image. Green shows clearcuts that took place by 2009. And blue shows clearcuts that occurred by 2016. Darker tones are areas of forest that did not change in this time frame. This way of examining the imagery shows that logging has affected nearly the entire landscape shown, something that may not be evident when looking at a single-date image.

People derive many ecological and economic benefits from forests, and Landsat can help forest managers monitor changes to ensure these resources are available for future generations.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA

June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA

June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA

June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA

July 31, 1994, July 24, 2009, and June 26, 2016 composite — using the shortwave infrared bands to show clearcuts

July 31, 1994, July 24, 2009, and June 26, 2016 composite — using the shortwave infrared bands to show clearcuts

June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA
June 26, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 46/30) — logging patterns, OR, USA
July 31, 1994, July 24, 2009, and June 26, 2016 composite — using the shortwave infrared bands to show clearcuts

Logging in Oregon, USA Additional Imagery & Stories

Checkerboard Pattern
Checkerboard Pattern

The close-up Landsat images that accompany this section show an obvious checkerboard pattern in the forest. These lands are known as “O&C” lands, ...

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Clearcutting
Clearcutting

A logging strategy that’s easy to spot in the Landsat imagery is clearcutting. All the trees in an area are harvested, and then replanting begins imme...

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Interpret the Images
Interpret the Images

A more up-close look in the Landsat images helps you to see the progression of clearcutting and regrowth. The colors in most of these images are a pat...

Read More
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