Earthdata Forum

I am accessing the Landsat archive available through AWS S3 (https://registry.opendata.aws/usgs-landsat/) and since I am retrieving data from various Landsat missions (5,7,8,9) which use different spectral band definitions (e.g. the green band changed from LS7 to LS8) I am wondering whether this is already accounted for in the correction/calibration applied to the data.

Essentially I'm asking whether I could use all Landsat missions together in the same timeseries, or I need to correct for differences in spectral bands.

Hello @gcaria I will run your question by the Landsat team here at the USGS EROS and we will follow up with an answer. Thanks -- Danielle

Hi @gcaria Yes, you can use Landsat imagery from all of the different Landsat sensors. To create a timeseries please just be sure to use the correct bands when you move to a different Landsat sensor. The calibration team ensures all data are corrected the same. Each sensor has different calibration information applied, but the data are all consistent in quality and processing. This page provides the CPF files per sensor and any notices/updates are made: https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-calibration-parameter-files.

Thanks for the prompt reply.

In this page https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-4-5-thematic-mapper-tm-calibration-notices, I see that the latest calibration notices for L5 refer to Collection 1. Where can I find information about Collection 2?

Hi @gcaria the CPFs are only updated for active missions. Therefore, L4-5 will only have C1 CPF files.

Thanks. Related to this, I've just come across a number of papers that document how over the 27 years the Landsat 5 orbit changed by nearly 1 h and resulted in changes in the Landsat 5 observed solar zenith angle of > 10°.

Is this effect taken into account by corrections/calibrations in the LS5 Collection 2 data?

Hello @gcaria I believe this page will answer your questions and provide more detailed information: https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/solar-illumination-and-sensor-viewing-angle-coefficient-files

If you have any additional questions after reading that webpage please let me know. Thanks -- Danielle