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Landsat Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse Images

By Landsat Missions

Landsat Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse (FRB) images are created for quick and efficient image selection and for visual interpretation.

FRB files are created from Landsat 1- 9 Level-1 products, and are distributed in Cloud Optimized Geographic (COG) Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) files. 

Return to Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 Data information

 

L8 Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse Samples: Reflective, Thermal, and Quality Band
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
These images are examples of Landsat Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse images. From left to right:  Reflective, Thermal, and Quality Band browse image. Images created from Landsat 8 data (Path 27 Row 27) acquired October 24, 2015. 

Reflective Browse 

The Reflective Browse image is a composite of three bands. Reflectance values were calculated from the calibrated scaled digital number (DN) image data, and the values were scaled to a 1-255 range using a gamma stretch with a gamma=2.0. This stretch was designed to emphasize vegetation without clipping the extreme values.  The following bands are used for each sensor: 

  • Landsat 8-9 OLI = Bands 6,5,4
  • Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 4-5 TM = Bands 5,4,3
  • Landsat 4-5 MSS = Bands 2,4,1
  • Landsat 1-3 MSS = Bands 5,7,4

Thermal Browse

The Thermal Browse is a one-band gray scale image that displays thermal properties. Image brightness temperature values were calculated from the calibrated scaled digital number (DN) image data, and a 2 percent clip and a linear stretch to 1-255 were applied to brightness temperature values.

  • Landsat 8-9 TIRS = Band 10
  • Landsat 7 ETM+ = Band 6.1-high gain
  • Landsat 4-5 TM = Band 6
  • Landsat 1-5 MSS = not available

Quality Browse

The Quality Browse is an 8-bit file generated from the Landsat Level-1 Quality Band to provide a quick view of the quality of the pixels within the scene to determine if a particular scene would work best for the user's application. This file includes values representing bit-packed combinations of surface, atmosphere, and sensor conditions that can affect the overall usefulness of a given pixel. Color mapping assignments are shown in the image below.  

Landsat Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse Quality Image Designations
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Quality Image designations and associated colors for Landsat Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse 8-bit images. 

Data Access

Landsat 1-9 Collection 2 Full Resolution Browse images can be downloaded as individual files from the Landsat Level-1 datasets on EarthExplorer.

Documentation

LSDS-1823 Landsat Full Resolution Browse Data Format Control Book (DFCB)