California and Landsat

Fact Sheet 2021-3034
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Abstract

California has remarkable geographic diversity, from 1,100 miles of Pacific shoreline to 33 million acres of trees, including its famous redwood forests along the Pacific Coast Highway, U.S. Route 101. And although California’s nickname is “The Golden State," it may also deserve the title of “The Extreme State.” Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the conterminous United States, stands at 14,494 feet above sea level in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Just 2.5 hours away by car, Death Valley’s Badwater Basin boasts the lowest point in the United States: 282 feet below sea level. Although hundreds of inches of snow fall on Mount Whitney each year, the rainfall in Death Valley, commonly called the hottest place on Earth, averages less than 2 inches.

California is the most populous U.S. State with 39 million residents, 26 million of whom live near the coast. It’s also the most agriculturally productive State, raising a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, grasses, and flowers in addition to dairy and livestock. Although climate change affects many of these people, production, and places, Landsat can help agencies and residents monitor their landscapes and plan for a resilient future.

Suggested Citation

U.S. Geological Survey, 2021, California and Landsat (ver. 1.1, January 2023): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2021–3034, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20213034.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Watching Where the Water Goes
  • Revealing More About Wildfires
  • Classifying Vegetation for More Than 40 Years
  • Landsat—Critical Information Infrastructure for the Nation
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title California and Landsat
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2021-3034
DOI 10.3133/fs20213034
Edition Version 1.0: June 16, 2021; Version 1.1: January 30, 2023
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 2 p.
Country United States
State California
Online Only (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details