Landsat and the Northeast
Landsat's Exciting Future
Upcoming Landsat Next's trio of satellites will provide more frequent imagery in more detail
Landsat is Vital to American Agriculture, Forests
Fighting Hemlock Killing Insect with Landsat
Discover how Landsat, with its extensive archive, helps us understand changes in Northeastern United States. From monitoring spongy moth damage to tracking coastal changes and providing crucial data for the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), Landsat's imagery reveals invaluable insights into our ever-changing landscape.
Tracking Forest Health from Space
Landsat's satellite Imagery provides critical insight into the extent of forest damage caused by spongy moth caterpillars, helping to monitor and manage affected areas.
The 2016 image shows the widespread defoliation of the trees in brown, with a large area of heavy defoliation to the west of Providence, Rhode Island, into Massachusetts.
Landsat provides detailed imagery that can identify changes in forest health over large areas, revealing defoliation patterns. It allows for timely and accurate assessment of the extent and severity of infestations, aiding in effective forest management and mitigation strategies.
Landsat Reveals Cape Cod's Changing Coastlines
Ocean currents, and the sediments they transport, have constantly shifted the Cape Cod barrier islands over time. Some of the abrupt changes, however, can be linked directly to a storm.
For example, a nor’easter in January 1987 cut a new inlet through North Beach and formed South Beach Island. South Beach connected to the mainland by 1993. Throughout the rest of the 1990s and early 2000s, South Beach reached southward toward South Monomoy and eventually connected to it.
In 2007, a nor’easter cut another new inlet through North Beach. This storm also wiped out several beach houses. Another abrupt change happened in February 2013 when a storm cut a new inlet through South Beach.
Learn how Landsat can be used to map coastlines and measure ocean depth.
Insights from the National Land Cover Database
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) provides comprehensive, nationwide land cover and land use data, capturing changes and trends to support environmental research, management, and policy-making decisions.
See how the CDC uses NLCD data to help the public understand heat impacts in their neighborhoods.
Landsat Benefits, State by State
At 438 miles (705 km) above the Earth, Landsat satellites capture our planet. From mapping wildfires and permafrost thaw in Alaska to tracking algal blooms and spongy moth invasions in Rhode Island, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Program offers an expansive list of benefits across all 50 States.
Learn more about Landsat and your state
Download your state's mosaic
Maine and Landsat
New Hampshire and Landsat
Massachusetts and Landsat
Landsat Next
Landsat Next, expected to launch in early 2030s, is an innovative Landsat mission that represents a quantum leap in measurement capabilities with improved temporal, spatial, and spectral resolutions. The mission will satisfy global Landsat data user needs and support evolving and emerging applications, all while maintaining Landsat data continuity and quality of the longest space-based record of Earth’s land surface.
Learn how the USGS is preparing for the new Landsat mission.
Landsat's Contributions
Landsat's contributions to the Northeast extend beyond its scenic landscapes, providing crucial data for urban planning, resource management, and scientific research. The satellite's consistent and extensive imagery archive enables communities to make informed decisions. As the region faces continued growth, Landsat's role remains indispensable, ensuring an informed future for the Northeast.