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Utah and Landsat

Fact Sheet 2022-3023
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20223023

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Abstract

Utah’s list of notable features runs long, but scenery rises to the top. The Colorado River does not simply run through southeastern Utah; it meanders through steep canyons of the eroded sedimentary rock that colors the sweeping vistas of the Colorado Plateau. Stone arches, spires, hoodoos, cliffs, and bridges in hues of red enchant residents and tourists. Mountain ranges extending through the State add dynamic views—and skiing opportunities.

The Great Salt Lake in northern Utah is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. The western part of Utah, including the Great Salt Lake, lies in the Great Basin, a multi-State drainage area with no outlet. Because the lake has no outlet to flush out any salt, evaporation produces a higher concentration of salts in the water or soils, called salinity. The lake lacks fish but supports algae and brine shrimp, and extensive wetlands around the lake attract millions of migratory birds.

Landsat imagery is useful for showing surface changes, such as the fluctuating water levels of the shallow Great Salt Lake. The lake flooded in the 1980s, but the southern part dropped to its lowest level in recorded history in 2021. Landsat data also can take a much deeper look at land and water conditions. Here are several ways Landsat benefits Utah.

Suggested Citation

U.S. Geological Survey, 2022, Utah and Landsat (ver. 1.1, January 2023): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2022–3023, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20223023.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Watching Water Use
  • Providing Wildfire Information
  • Detecting Harmful Water
  • Landsat—Critical Information Infrastructure for the Nation
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Utah and Landsat
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2022-3023
DOI 10.3133/fs20223023
Edition Version 1.0: April 26, 2022; Version 1.1: January 24, 2023
Year Published 2022
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 Utah
Online Only (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details