The Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, is comprised of more than 14,600 square miles and is considered the largest metropolitan area in the southwestern United States. The desert climate and abundant sunshine of the area are main factors in population growth and urban sprawl.
Multimedia
Explore the USGS Multimedia for access to images, videos, podcasts, and webcams. All items are considered public domain unless otherwise noted.
Images
The Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, is comprised of more than 14,600 square miles and is considered the largest metropolitan area in the southwestern United States. The desert climate and abundant sunshine of the area are main factors in population growth and urban sprawl.
The Railroad Valley Playa, located in east central Nevada, measures about 80 miles long and nearly 20 miles wide, and is a vast and wide-open landscape.
The Railroad Valley Playa, located in east central Nevada, measures about 80 miles long and nearly 20 miles wide, and is a vast and wide-open landscape.
![Screen Capture of Wetlandinfo from Digital Earth Australia](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/WIT_website.jpg?itok=cvE56qdo)
WetlandInfo screen capture of Wetlands Area Data using Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Wetland Insight Tool (WIT) and other data.
WetlandInfo screen capture of Wetlands Area Data using Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Wetland Insight Tool (WIT) and other data.
Each year, June is National Ocean Month!
Each year, June is National Ocean Month!
![Landsat 8 image from June 24, 2024, showing the floods that affected Union County, South Dakota, & Plymouth County, Iowa](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/South_Dakota_Floods_L8_20240624_ZoomIn.jpg?itok=Ado1z4B8)
Landsat 8 image acquired on June 24, 2024, showing the floods that affected Union County, South Dakota, and Plymouth County, Iowa. A multi-day heavy rainfall event in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota led to widespread flooding across the region.
Landsat 8 image acquired on June 24, 2024, showing the floods that affected Union County, South Dakota, and Plymouth County, Iowa. A multi-day heavy rainfall event in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota led to widespread flooding across the region.
Landsat 8 image acquired on June 24, 2024, showing the floods that affected South Dakota and Iowa. A multi-day heavy rainfall event in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota led to widespread flooding across the region.
Landsat 8 image acquired on June 24, 2024, showing the floods that affected South Dakota and Iowa. A multi-day heavy rainfall event in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota led to widespread flooding across the region.
Videos
![Landsat: Products & Services from the USGS - Webinar, September 2023 Title slide with illustration of satellite above the Earth and text alongside](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Landsat%20-%20Products%20and%20Services%20from%20the%20USGS%20thumbnail_0.png?itok=h8snwT_x)
The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center maintains the largest civilian collection of images of the Earth’s land surface. At EROS we study land change and produce land change data products used by researchers, resource managers, and policymakers across the nation and around the world.
The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center maintains the largest civilian collection of images of the Earth’s land surface. At EROS we study land change and produce land change data products used by researchers, resource managers, and policymakers across the nation and around the world.
Landsat Next is the follow on mission to Landsat-9. Landsat Next which will provide data continuity to the decades long data record of the Earth’s land from space. It is still in the planning stages and is targeted for launch around 2030.
Landsat Next is the follow on mission to Landsat-9. Landsat Next which will provide data continuity to the decades long data record of the Earth’s land from space. It is still in the planning stages and is targeted for launch around 2030.
![Landsat Records 50 Years of Growth in Dallas-Fort Worth Landsat 1 First Light Image over Dallas, Texas](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/L1_028037_19720725_B654_dallas_ftworth_0.jpg?itok=TN4jACER)
Landsat 1 celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 23, 2022!
Landsat 1's first satellite image shared with the world was a view of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Over the course of five decades, Landsat satellites have captured the Dallas-Fort Worth area 2033 times, compiled into individual scenes in the Landsat Archive.
Landsat 1 celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 23, 2022!
Landsat 1's first satellite image shared with the world was a view of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Over the course of five decades, Landsat satellites have captured the Dallas-Fort Worth area 2033 times, compiled into individual scenes in the Landsat Archive.
The Landsat program conceived of in the 1960s, has been running longer than any remote sensing program. The idea was simple: position a satellite in a nearly polar orbit fixed to the solar angle so that each daytime pass would cross the equator at roughly the same local time.
The Landsat program conceived of in the 1960s, has been running longer than any remote sensing program. The idea was simple: position a satellite in a nearly polar orbit fixed to the solar angle so that each daytime pass would cross the equator at roughly the same local time.
Landsat 7 had the honor of acquiring the satellite program’s 10 millionth scene in November 2021.
The scene captures changes to the Dead Sea, located in Southwest Asia. The Dead Sea is mainly fed by the Jordan River, which enters from the north. However, the water level of the Dead Sea has been falling due to irrigation projects and water use upstream.
Landsat 7 had the honor of acquiring the satellite program’s 10 millionth scene in November 2021.
The scene captures changes to the Dead Sea, located in Southwest Asia. The Dead Sea is mainly fed by the Jordan River, which enters from the north. However, the water level of the Dead Sea has been falling due to irrigation projects and water use upstream.
Since 1972, Landsat satellites have continually acquired data about the Earth’s land surface. On November 23, 2021, the Landsat Archive that stores this vital record added its ten millionth scene.
The history of the area on display in that milestone scene offers insight into the value of the Landsat Program’s longevity to the scientific community.
Since 1972, Landsat satellites have continually acquired data about the Earth’s land surface. On November 23, 2021, the Landsat Archive that stores this vital record added its ten millionth scene.
The history of the area on display in that milestone scene offers insight into the value of the Landsat Program’s longevity to the scientific community.
Audio
![Eyes on Earth thumbnail image for Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline showing guest Sean Vitousek on a watercraft](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE120_thumbnail-900x900_0.png?itok=h5RgEFQP)
![Eyes on Earth thumbnail image for Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline showing guest Sean Vitousek on a watercraft](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE120_thumbnail-900x900_0.png?itok=h5RgEFQP)
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we begin a series on Landsat’s usefulness in coastal studies. First, we talk with Sean Vitousek, a USGS research oceanographer, about changes to beaches in California and how he is using Landsat and other data to create models that can predict how the coastline may change in the future because of sea level rise and coastal erosion.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we begin a series on Landsat’s usefulness in coastal studies. First, we talk with Sean Vitousek, a USGS research oceanographer, about changes to beaches in California and how he is using Landsat and other data to create models that can predict how the coastline may change in the future because of sea level rise and coastal erosion.
![Image of EROS Center and Kristi Kline with Eyes on Earth graphic on top](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE119_thumbnail-900x900_0.png?itok=i9G3DKbz)
![Image of EROS Center and Kristi Kline with Eyes on Earth graphic on top](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE119_thumbnail-900x900_0.png?itok=i9G3DKbz)
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with Kristi Kline about the constant changes and innovations that have been needed at EROS to keep up with changes in computer tech and data processing. Kline has been a part of helping to implement these changes over the past 27 years and is now retiring at the end of May 2024.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with Kristi Kline about the constant changes and innovations that have been needed at EROS to keep up with changes in computer tech and data processing. Kline has been a part of helping to implement these changes over the past 27 years and is now retiring at the end of May 2024.
![Image of Earth with mugshots of three people and a little text overlaid](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE118_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=u2TKAFkd)
![Image of Earth with mugshots of three people and a little text overlaid](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE118_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=u2TKAFkd)
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with several people involved with the next Landsat mission, targeted for launch around 2030. While that may seem like a ways into the future, it takes a lot of work to prepare for such a big mission.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with several people involved with the next Landsat mission, targeted for launch around 2030. While that may seem like a ways into the future, it takes a lot of work to prepare for such a big mission.
![Earth surrounded by illustration of satellite passes with a white label and three mugshots overlaying it](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE117_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=NTulMzbe)
![Earth surrounded by illustration of satellite passes with a white label and three mugshots overlaying it](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE117_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=NTulMzbe)
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with several people involved with the next Landsat mission. In Part 1, we’ll hear about how different Landsat Next will be from previous Landsat missions and how its additional spectral bands, higher resolution and 6-day revisit will benefit science and society.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with several people involved with the next Landsat mission. In Part 1, we’ll hear about how different Landsat Next will be from previous Landsat missions and how its additional spectral bands, higher resolution and 6-day revisit will benefit science and society.
![Mugshot of bearded man with bookshelves behind him and a little white text](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE116_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=qHeL3vRS)
![Mugshot of bearded man with bookshelves behind him and a little white text](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/EoE116_thumbnail-900x900.png?itok=qHeL3vRS)
Landsat has documented changes all over the world for over 50 years. Changes in polar regions are happening especially rapidly. But it’s dark in polar regions much of the time. Therefore, a new acquisition scheme is adding more imagery of these dark, polar regions so these changes can be studied in more detail, even in polar twilight.
Landsat has documented changes all over the world for over 50 years. Changes in polar regions are happening especially rapidly. But it’s dark in polar regions much of the time. Therefore, a new acquisition scheme is adding more imagery of these dark, polar regions so these changes can be studied in more detail, even in polar twilight.
Outbreaks of native bark beetles can lead to conspicuous changes in a forest landscape. They’ve been present for thousands of years with occasional outbreaks, but there’s a lot we don’t yet understand about them. Exactly when and where have outbreaks occurred? How severe were they? What happened to the forest afterward?
Outbreaks of native bark beetles can lead to conspicuous changes in a forest landscape. They’ve been present for thousands of years with occasional outbreaks, but there’s a lot we don’t yet understand about them. Exactly when and where have outbreaks occurred? How severe were they? What happened to the forest afterward?