USGS - science for a changing world
NASA

Landsat Missions




Spectral Characteristics Viewer

"What are the best spectral bands to use for my study?"

This is a common question from all users of remotely sensed data. The spatial resolution (level of detail) is often the most interesting aspect of a satellite image, but less appreciated is how changes in irradiative energy reflected by surface materials are used to identify features of interest.

The Spectral Characteristics Viewer allows us to visualize how the bands of various satellite sensors measure the intensity of the wavelengths (colors) of light; this is called the Relative Spectral Response (RSR).

By overlaying the spectral curves from different spectra (features), the user can determine which bands of the selected sensor(s) will work for the application.

Click here to use the Spectral Viewer.
Click here to use the Spectral Viewer.



Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://landsat.usgs.gov
Page Contact Information: landsat@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: November 23, 2009
Sitemap