Current status of Landsat program, science, and applications

Authors: WULDER, M. - Canadian Forest Service; LOVELAND, T. - Eros National Center; ROY, D. - South Dakota State University; CRAWFORD, C. - Eros National Center; MASEK, JEFFREY - Goddard Space Flight Center; WOODCOCK, C. - Boston University; ALLEN, R.G. - University Of Idaho; Anderson, Martha; BELWARD, A. - European Commission-Joint Research Centre (JRC); COHEN, WARREN - Forest Service (FS); DWYER, J. - Eros National Center; ERD, ANGELA - University Of Massachusetts; Gao, Feng; GRIFFITHS, P. - University Of South Dakota; HELDER, D. - University Of South Dakota; HERMOSILLA, T. - University Of British Columbia; HIPPLE, J. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); HOSTERT, P. - Humboldt University; HUGHES, M. - Oregon State University; HUNTINGTON, J. - Desert Research Institute; JOHNSON, D. - National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS, USDA); KENNEDY, R. - Boston University; KILIC, A. - University Of Nebraska; LI, ZHAN - University Of Massachusetts; LYMBURNER, L. - Geoscience Australia

Submitted to: Remote Sensing of Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2019
Publication Date: 5/1/2019
Citation: Wulder, M., Loveland, T., Roy, D., Crawford, C., Masek, J., Woodcock, C., Allen, R., Anderson, M.C., Belward, A., Cohen, W., Dwyer, J., Erd, A., Gao, F.N., Griffiths, P., Helder, D., Hermosilla, T., Hipple, J., Hostert, P., Hughes, M., Huntington, J., Johnson, D., Kennedy, R., Kilic, A., Li, Z., Lymburner, L. 2019. Current status of Landsat program, science, and applications. Remote Sensing of Environment. 225:127-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.02.015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.02.015

Interpretive Summary: The Landsat series of satellites has been observing conditions on the Earth’s land surface since 1972. Due to its relatively high spatial resolution (30 m pixels), Landsat has recorded changes in land use and land management at scales of human influence, constituting an invaluable archive of how we have shaped our agricultural, natural and urban landscapes over the past four decades. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Landsat program, now led by Landsat 8 launched in February of 2018. The evolution of the Landsat data archive is also described, including the dawn of free and open access in 2008 toward an Analysis Ready Data platform in prototype operation in 2018. Current trends in time series analysis and science using Landsat 8 data are summarized, including applications in cryosphere, aquatics, surface water mapping, vegetation phenology, surface albedo and temperature, water use, crop yield, and forest monitoring. Finally, an outlook toward the future of the Landsat program, including user requirements for Landsat 10 and beyond, is provided, as well as insights on using virtual constellations of international satellites. Science and resource management communities have benefited from Landsat mission continuity, open access to new and historic imagery, mature and developing ground systems, and an increasingly broad suite of image data products.

Technical Abstract: Having collected earth observation data in some form for over four decades since the July 23, 1972 launch of Landsat 1, the Landsat program is increasingly complex and vibrant. While the unbroken series of satellites are of greatest importance and profile, critical programmatic elements including ground systems, acquisition planning, data archiving and management, and provision of analysis ready data products, are ensuring the continuity of high quality measurements for scientific and operational investigations. Free and open access to archival and new imagery have resulted in myriad new applications and scientific insights. The planning of future compatible satellites in the Landsat series, which maintain continuity while incorporating new technological advancements, has resulted in an increased programmatic use of Landsat data. Governments and international agencies, among others, can build an expectation of Landsat data into a given programmatic data stream. International programs and conventions (e.g., deforestation monitoring, climate change mitigation) are empowered by access to systematically collected and calibrated data with expected future continuity building upon the existing multi-decadal record. The increased breadth and depth of Landsat science and applications following open access to analysis ready data has further accelerated following the launch of Landsat 8 with significant improvements in data quality. In this paper, we describe the programmatic developments and institutional context for the Landsat program and the unique ability of Landsat to meet the needs of national and international programs. We then present the key trends in Landsat science that underpin many of the recent scientific and application developments, which are then thematically presented. The historic context offered by archival imagery combined with new imagery allows for the development of algorithms that can avail upon time series expectation and can in turn produce information on trends and dynamics. Landsat 8 has figured prominently in these recent developments, as has the improved understanding and calibration of historical data. Following the communication of the state of Landsat science, an outlook for future launches and envisioned programmatic developments are presented. Increased linkages between satellite programs are also made possible through an expectation of future mission continuity, such as the developing virtual constellation with Sentinel 2. Institutional and programmatic context are shown as a precursor to science and applications developments. Successful science and applications developments, as described, create a feedback justifying and encouraging current and future programmatic support for Landsat.