Abstract
The combination of Landsat-8, Landsat-9, Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B data provides a new perspective in remote sensing application for terrestrial monitoring. Jointly, these four sensors together offer global 10–30-m multi-spectral data coverage at a higher temporal revisit frequency. In this study, combinations of four sensors were used to examine the revisit interval by modelled orbit swath information. To investigate different factors that could influence data availability, an analysis was carried out for one year based on daytime surface observations of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2A -2B. We found that (i) the global median average of revisit intervals for the combination of four sensors was 2.3 days; (ii) the global mean average number of surface observations was 141.4 for the combination of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2A -2B; (iii) the global mean average cloud-weighted number of observations for the three sensors combined was 81.9. Three different locations were selected to compare with the cloud-weighted number of observations, and the results show an appropriate accuracy. The utility of combining four sensors together and the implication for terrestrial monitoring are discussed.
Highlights
IntroductionSatellite combinations of the polar-orbiting Landsat-8 (launched 2013) and Landsat-9 (proposed for launch in middle 2021) by NASA [1] as well as Sentinel-2A (launched 2015) and Sentinel-2B (launched 2017) [2] by European Space Agency (ESA) offer 10–30-m resolution multi-spectral global land coverage
Satellite combinations of the polar-orbiting Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 by NASA [1] as well as Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B [2] by European Space Agency (ESA) offer 10–30-m resolution multi-spectral global land coverage
The data availability of satellite observations is of great importance to the surface land monitoring capabilities, as more data enable more reliable land cover classification and change detection
Summary
Satellite combinations of the polar-orbiting Landsat-8 (launched 2013) and Landsat-9 (proposed for launch in middle 2021) by NASA [1] as well as Sentinel-2A (launched 2015) and Sentinel-2B (launched 2017) [2] by European Space Agency (ESA) offer 10–30-m resolution multi-spectral global land coverage. This will substantially increase moderate-resolution satellite observations available for terrestrial monitoring [3]. The data availability of satellite observations is of great importance to the surface land monitoring capabilities, as more data enable more reliable land cover classification and change detection
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