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USGS EROS @USGS_EROS
Joined April 2018
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2,769 Photos and videos
How drought reshaped Lake Corpus Christi in just one year. Lake Corpus Christi, one of three reservoirs supplying water to the Corpus Christi area, dropped below 10% capacity earlier this year after prolonged drought. Recent rains have improved conditions, raising the reservoir to about 23% full, but these maps show how dramatically water levels can change across the landscape. The images below come from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD), which uses Landsat imagery to map land cover and track changes across the United States each year. The shrinking footprint of Lake Corpus Christi between 2024 and 2025 is one example of the many changes Annual NLCD captures, providing a valuable resource for government agencies, researchers, businesses, and communities. Watch for the next Annual NLCD update, adding 2025 land cover changes, on June 30! 🔗 Learn more about Annual NLCD and its benefits: ow.ly/97cc50Z6TMy 📷1: Annual NLCD 2024 map of the Lake Corpus Christi area. Open water is shown in dark blue, wetlands in lighter blue, developed areas in red, cropland in brown, pasture/hay in yellow, and shrubland in tan. The Nueces River flows into the reservoir from the north. 📷2: Annual NLCD 2025 map of the same area. Lower water levels reduced the extent of open water in the reservoir, particularly in the upper portion where parts of the reservoir were reduced to narrower channels and isolated pools. The Nueces River upstream of the reservoir also narrowed as water levels declined.
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Today is the 110th Indianapolis 500! 🏁 The speedway may look a little different than when it was built in 1909 to serve as a testing facility for newfangled automobiles, but it’s still dedicated to the dream of driving. This National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photograph shows the modern grounds ringed by the 2.5-mile racetrack. The grandstands, visible in places on the infield and outside the track, have a permanent seating capacity of at least 235,000. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the speedway as the largest stadium for overall capacity. The EROS archive includes high-resolution NAIP imagery of cities and countryside across the United States. Visit EarthExplorer to view and download: earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ #Indy500 #IMS
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Managing land in the West? Improvements to weekly maps of invasive grasses make it easier! Aggressive invasive grasses can crowd out native plants, damage habitats, and increase the risk of wildfire. Monitoring tools are important for treatment timing, fire management, grazing decisions, and habitat management. USGS scientists produce weekly maps that show the amount of invasive grasses like cheatgrass and medusahead growing across the western half of the United States. Improvements to the maps include extending their production through early September to capture more of the growing season. Learn more about the Exotic Annual Grass (EAG) mapping improvements and access the data: ow.ly/T3Gw50Z1Pi1 📷1: This area near Rock Springs, Wyoming, within the sagebrush ecosystem, was invaded by cheatgrass after a fire. Cheatgrass has an early, short growing season, leaving behind abundant dry material that can serve as fuel for more fires. Photo credit: Toby Maxwell, USGS 📷2: This Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP) EAG map shows levels of cheatgrass growth during a recent week in the northwestern United States. Additional weekly maps depict medusahead, field brome and Japanese brome, all exotic annual grasses, and total herbaceous ground cover (grasses and forbes).
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By special request: Landsat nighttime images! 🌋🔥 Want to know what a certain volcano or fire looks like at night from space? Or see glaciers at twilight? Landsat satellites don’t have to take the night off. In fact, they can offer more to science if they don’t, including monitoring erupting volcanoes. Learn more about what Landsat can see in the dark and how to submit a special request for imagery to USGS EROS for consideration: ow.ly/crFF50YSQbp 📷1: A fissure continued to erupt in the early morning of December 5, 2022, at the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. Photo credit: Lis Gallant, USGS 📷2: The Landsat 9 satellite captured a nighttime image on December 4, 2022, of Mauna Loa's 11.3-mile-long lava flow, shown illuminating the plume of ash in the atmosphere above.
Glowing lava erupting from a volcanic crater with thick smoke rising against an early morning sky.

ALT Glowing lava erupting from a volcanic crater with thick smoke rising against an early morning sky.

Fiery lava illuminating jagged fissures in a volcanic surface and ash above.

ALT Fiery lava illuminating jagged fissures in a volcanic surface and ash above.
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Pecora Award nominations are due May 29! You can help recognize an individual or group for their innovative work, impactful research, and dedication to Earth observation through the William T. Pecora Award. The award honors those using satellite or aerial remote sensing to make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth. Any national or international individual or group working in the field of remote sensing of the Earth is eligible. Details for submitting nominations: ow.ly/V63l50YRR1U 📷: This Landsat 5 image from August 17, 2009, shows the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. The Landsat 5 Flight Operations Team received a 2020 Pecora Award for its significant efforts in stretching the satellite’s mission to nearly 30 years, from its launch in 1984 to its decommissioning in 2013. Creatively addressing problems that arose, the team ensured the continuity of the Landsat Program. Landsat 5 imagery lives on today in all of the science products and research projects that rely on its vital historical record. #PecoraAwards #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing
Aerial view of the vast of the Grand Canyon landscape with scattered green vegetation patches.

ALT Aerial view of the vast of the Grand Canyon landscape with scattered green vegetation patches.
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Get a good look at trees in southeastern Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands! 🌳🌲🌴 Tree canopy maps can help communities monitor change, support planning, and inform resource management decisions. The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has added Tree Canopy Cover data provided by U.S. Forest Service for those areas, alongside the lower 48 states, for 1985–2023, making it possible to see the percentage of tree cover and compare change over time. Explore the “NLCD Tree Canopy” dataset in the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium NLCD Viewer: ow.ly/Q2ln50YRhBx 📷1: The Mount Britton Trail portion of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, the only tropical rainforest in the United States’ national forest system. El Yunque National Forest, on the slopes of the Luquillo mountains, has a remarkable diversity of plants and animals. Photo by Preston Keres, USDA Forest Service 📷2: Tree Canopy Cover for eastern Puerto Rico is sparser in cities like San Juan and denser in areas like the El Yunque National Forest.
Lush green hillside densely covered with tropical vegetation under a cloudy sky.

ALT Lush green hillside densely covered with tropical vegetation under a cloudy sky.

Satellite-derived view of eastern Puerto Rico's dense forest canopy coverage with San Juan and El Yunque National Forest labeled.

ALT Satellite-derived view of eastern Puerto Rico's dense forest canopy coverage with San Juan and El Yunque National Forest labeled.
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Over 1,000 new fire maps across the United States! 🔥 Mapping where and how severely a fire has burned the landscape is important right away for fire responders and in the long-term for land and fire-risk managers. The Burn Severity Portal provides access to a range of maps of wildfires and prescribed burns. Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS), for example, contains more than 30,000 maps of fire perimeters and burn severity from 1984 to 2025 that are widely used in land and fire management tools, as well as research studies. The new release added 645 MTBS maps from 2023-2025. Find the data on the Burn Severity Portal’s Interactive Viewer: burnseverity.cr.usgs.gov/vie… 📷1: One of the new MTBS maps features the 2025 South Carolina fire Table Rock Complex. The map shows varying levels of burn severity in the forested area, as explained in the legend. It also shows the fire’s location in extreme northwestern South Carolina. Burning more than 14,000 acres, Table Rock Complex became the largest fire in Upstate South Carolina history. Hurricane Helene had left fire fuels on the ground the previous year that contributed to burning, and the steep terrain also challenged firefighters. According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, at more than $11 million, the Table Rock Complex was the most expensive fire the state has had to fight. 📷2: Firefighters rely on aviation methods more than usual in the Table Rock Complex fire in South Carolina, where bulldozers are more typical. Here, a helicopter drops water on the fire. The South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighting efforts were supported by South Carolina Army National Guard helicopters and a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roberto Di Giovine, Army National Guard
Map showing burn severity levels with large areas marked as unburned to low, scattered moderate and high severity zones, and some increased greenness patches.

ALT Map showing burn severity levels with large areas marked as unburned to low, scattered moderate and high severity zones, and some increased greenness patches.

Helicopter carrying a water bucket flies over smoky mountains to combat a wildfire at dusk.

ALT Helicopter carrying a water bucket flies over smoky mountains to combat a wildfire at dusk.

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USGS EROS retweeted
CEOS@CEOSdotORG
Apr 22
💬 LSI-VC-19 & WGCV-56 @USGS_EROS Discussing: 📄 2026 CEOS-ARD Strategy 🎯 Calibration and Validation networks ⛰️ Land surface imaging thematic topics ⚖️ Expressing uncertainty 🤝 Commercial engagement tours of the EROS Center and Cal/Val field site 😎
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See our planet in a new way this Earth Day! 🌎 Our Earth As Art collections showcase the beauty of sweeping landscapes as they feature satellite and drone images with creative combinations of visible and infrared light. You’ve never seen deserts, deltas, rivers, or ridges look quite like this. Get to know our planet better by browsing Earth As Art galleries: ow.ly/aFnB50YLp2I 📷1: A Landsat 8 image of the desert in Morocco displays folds caused by the prolonged collision of tectonic plates that here look almost like ribbons. From Earth As Art Collection 6. 📷2: A drone image of the Palmyra Atoll shows rainforest vegetation in blue. The collection of islands south of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean has no permanent inhabitants but is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. From Earth As Art Collection 6. #EveryDayIsEarthDay
A vibrant abstract landscape with swirling patterns in pink, purple, green, and blue hues resembling geological formations.

ALT A vibrant abstract landscape with swirling patterns in pink, purple, green, and blue hues resembling geological formations.

A drone image showing a rainforest as blue with yellowish-greenish water

ALT A drone image showing a rainforest as blue with yellowish-greenish water
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Need Landsat imagery that isn’t routinely acquired? There’s a process for that. Did you know Landsat can capture more than standard daytime scenes? Researchers can submit special requests for non-routine acquisitions to support unique science needs—and this webinar will walk you through how it works. Landsat Special Requests allow users to request non-standard data for studies ranging from nighttime heat patterns to polar ice monitoring. If you’ve ever needed imagery outside the regular collection plan, this session will show you how to get started. We’ll also cover timelines, limitations, and common reasons requests are approved or denied to help set realistic expectations. 📅 Webinar Details: Date: April 16, 2026 Time: 1:00–2:00 PM ET Who should attend: Anyone interested in requesting Landsat imagery ➡️ Register here: ow.ly/60yJ50YCQn3 What You’ll Learn: 🔸 A quick look at Landsat’s routine data acquisition plan (nearly 750 scenes per day) 🔸 How to prepare and submit a Landsat Special Request 🔸 What to expect during the review and approval process 🔸 Real-world examples of how Special Request data support scientific research 📷 A Landsat 8 thermal image shows the Brunt Ice Shelf and iceberg A-74 in East Antarctica on April 4, 2021, revealing structural details of the surrounding sea ice and ice shelf.
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There’s still time to register for the Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) 2026 Workshop! The USGS partners with other federal agencies to host an annual workshop where remote sensing experts discuss new satellites, data improvements, and much more. 📅 Workshop Details: Date: April 13-17, 2026 Place: USGS Headquarters in Reston, Virginia virtual attendance Who should attend: People from federal agencies, private industry, and academia interested in the quality standards of remote sensing imagery. 🔗 Register here: ow.ly/5soi50YylPk 📷: Railroad Valley Playa in east-central Nevada. A portion of the playa is used to calibrate satellite sensors. Image acquired June 29, 2024, by Landsat 9.
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News for volcano, glacier, and fire scientists! The USGS is hosting a free webinar about key improvements in Version 4 of ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) data. ASTER has collected more than 4.7 million images of Earth since launching aboard the TERRA satellite in 1999. 📅 Webinar Details: Date: April 2, 2026 Time: 12:00-1:00 PM CT Who should attend: Anyone who uses ASTER data or has an interest in exploring the full reprocessed archive Live demonstrations will cover: 🔸Product enhancements 🔸New formats 🔸Changes in data access 🔸Innovative ways to process and analyze data 🔗 Register here: ow.ly/s3ks50YyiuE
Satellite image showcasing diverse terrain colors promoting an April 2, 2026 webinar on ASTER Version 4 updates and cloud archive tools.

ALT Satellite image showcasing diverse terrain colors promoting an April 2, 2026 webinar on ASTER Version 4 updates and cloud archive tools.

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The Pecora Award nominations are open! 🌎 Since 1974, the William T. Pecora Award has celebrated individuals or teams using satellite or aerial remote sensing and making outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth. Who comes to mind when you hear innovative work, impactful research, and dedication to Earth observation? Consider nominating them for this prestigious honor! William T. Pecora, a geologist, served as director of the USGS from 1965 to 1971. During that time, he was instrumental in the creation of the Landsat Program, which led to the establishment of the USGS EROS Center to support Landsat data distribution. Nominations for the 2026 award will be accepted until May 29, 2026. Learn more at ow.ly/rUBP50YrWH2
Black and white portrait of a man wearing a suit and tie against a plain background.

ALT Black and white portrait of a man wearing a suit and tie against a plain background.
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The pot at the end of the rainbow over EROS contains science and data worth more than gold! Landsat satellite data alone has an annual economic value of $25 billion. Learn more: ow.ly/vVjk50Yqn6A 🍀#StPatricksDay 📷: Photo credit: Grant Mah, USGS, August 19, 2025
Bright double rainbow arches over a rural landscape with tall grass and scattered trees under a cloudy sky.

ALT Bright double rainbow arches over a rural landscape with tall grass and scattered trees under a cloudy sky.
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DOI Job Alert! USGS EROS is hiring two Flight System Managers. 🌎Location: Greenbelt, Maryland 🗓️Closing date: March 26, 2026 🔗Open to the Public: ow.ly/Mr8l50YtoRI 🔗Open to Federal Employees: ow.ly/u1re50YtoRJ Some specific duties of a Flight System Manager include: •Serving as a recognized authority and principal expert of Landsat flight and ground systems. •Advising and consulting with a wide range of leaders and partners on flight and ground operations issues and associated impacts. •Providing technical leadership regarding satellite flight dynamics and control, space and ground communication systems, and data processing and storage systems. 📷: An illustration of a Landsat satellite in space.
Satellite with large solar panels orbiting above Earth’s blue and white cloud-covered surface.

ALT Satellite with large solar panels orbiting above Earth’s blue and white cloud-covered surface.
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x.com/USGS_EROS/status/20096… If you missed this webinar don't worry, you can watch the recording here: usgs.gov/media/videos/visual…

USGS EROS
@USGS_EROS
Jan 9
Hey, land cover fans! Join the USGS EROS UX webinar “Visualizing Land Cover with MRLC Tools” at 12 p.m. CST Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with guest speaker Kenadie Martinsen as she spotlights Annual NLCD access. Register here: ow.ly/egzp50XTGIf
USGS webinar announcement on Visualizing Land Cover with MRLC Tools scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 12 p.m. CST with speaker Kenadie Martinsen.

ALT USGS webinar announcement on Visualizing Land Cover with MRLC Tools scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 12 p.m. CST with speaker Kenadie Martinsen.
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The Exotic Annual Grass (EAG) dataset, produced by EROS, maps invasive species across the western U.S. that can increase wildfire intensity, reduce rangeland productivity, and outcompete native plants. 👉 Latest version, from 2016-2024: ow.ly/ZK1150YhAf1 #NISAW
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Big shoutout to Brandon Valley sixth-graders! Thanks for visiting USGS EROS Center. Planning a visit for your classroom? Give us a call! We also offer guided tours to the public each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Learn more about tours here: ow.ly/8bLL50YietM
Group of students attentively observing a large multi-panel satellite map displayed on a wall.

ALT Group of students attentively observing a large multi-panel satellite map displayed on a wall.

People standing in a dimly lit hallway with illuminated digital displays on the left wall.

ALT People standing in a dimly lit hallway with illuminated digital displays on the left wall.

Presenter at USGS podium explaining a detailed map of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to an attentive audience in a lecture room.

ALT Presenter at USGS podium explaining a detailed map of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to an attentive audience in a lecture room.
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Catch USGS EROS scientists on the live LANDFIRE Office Hour! Tune in to “Contrasting LANDFIRE with Fractional Vegetation Cover Data (RCMAP and RAP)” at 12 p.m. CT February 25 to consider which Landsat-based dataset works for your needs. Register here: ow.ly/MJUq50Yi9Fi
Map showing herbaceous vegetation cover across the western and central United States in 2024, with varying densities from low to high.

ALT Map showing herbaceous vegetation cover across the western and central United States in 2024, with varying densities from low to high.
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This Presidents Day, we’re looking at Medora, ND—home of the in-progress Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, opening July 4, 2026. NAIP imagery, from Sept. 8, 2023 (EROS archive), shows the site chosen for its rugged isolation that President Roosevelt loved.
Aerial view of a winding river curving through rugged terrain with sparse vegetation and a construction site near a road.

ALT Aerial view of a winding river curving through rugged terrain with sparse vegetation and a construction site near a road.

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