AI-generated Key Takeaways
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This Landsat 8 dataset provides 8-day Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) composites from Level L1T orthorectified scenes, calculated using top-of-atmosphere reflectance.
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The dataset covers the period from April 7, 2013 to April 23, 2017 and is considered complete, with the USGS no longer producing Pre-Collection Landsat data after May 1, 2017.
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Users are strongly encouraged to transition to a Collection 1-based dataset for continued Landsat analysis.
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The NDSI values, ranging from -1.0 to 1.0, are derived from the Green and Mid-IR bands and are useful for snow identification based on reflectance differences.
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Landsat datasets are in the public domain and can be freely used, but proper citation and acknowledgement of the USGS as the data source is requested.
- Dataset Availability
- 2013-04-07T00:00:00Z–2017-04-23T00:00:00Z
- Dataset Provider
- USGS
- Tags
Description
These Landsat 8 composites are made from Level L1T orthorectified scenes, using the computed top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance. See Chander et al. (2009) for details on the TOA computation.
As of May 1, 2017, the USGS is no longer producing Pre-Collection Landsat, and therefore this collection is complete. Please switch to a Collection 1-based dataset. See this documentation page for more information.
The Normalized Difference Snow Index is used to identify snow, based on its characteristically higher reflectance in the visible portion of the spectrum compared to the mid-IR. NDSI is computed using the Green and Mid-IR bands, and has a range of -1.0 to 1.0. See Riggs et al. (1994) for details.
These composites are created from all the scenes in each 8-day period beginning from the first day of the year and continuing to the 360th day of the year. The last composite of the year, beginning on day 361, will overlap the first composite of the following year by 3 days. All the images from each 8-day period are included in the composite, with the most recent pixel as the composite value.
Bands
Bands
| Name | Pixel Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
NDSI |
30 meters | Normalized Difference Snow Index |
Terms of Use
Terms of Use
Landsat datasets are federally created data and therefore reside in the public domain and may be used, transferred, or reproduced without copyright restriction.
Acknowledgement or credit of the USGS as data source should be provided by including a line of text citation such as the example shown below.
(Product, Image, Photograph, or Dataset Name) courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Example: Landsat-7 image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
See the USGS Visual Identity System Guidance for further details on proper citation and acknowledgement of USGS products.