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Landsat 8–9 Geometric and Radiometric Calibration and Characterization

Fact Sheet 2026-3001
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20263001

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val (Calibration and Validation) Center of Excellence is a global leader in improving the accuracy, precision, and quality of remote-sensing data. Calibration is the process of quantitatively defining a system’s response to known and controlled signal inputs. Validation is the process of assessing, by independent means, the quality of the calibrated data products derived from system outputs. 

The Landsat Cal/Val team, comanaged by the Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Landsat Science Project, continually monitors the geometric and radiometric performance of active Landsat missions and makes calibration adjustments, as needed, to maintain data quality at the highest level, ensuring its reliability for scientific research. Landsat data quality is often referred to as the “gold standard” and gives other civil and commercial satellite programs a trusted reference point for measuring their own data quality. 

The Landsat program started more than 50 years ago. Since then, Landsat missions have gone through multiple technological advances, which, together with improved calibration and validation techniques, have led to higher data quality over time. The Cal/Val team also maintains consistency in data calibration across the multiple generations of sensors, which is vital to many scientists for time-series analysis. 

Suggested Citation

Anderson, C., Choate, M.J., Micijevic, E., and Shaw, J.L., 2026, Landsat 8–9 geometric and radiometric calibration and characterization: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2026–3001, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20263001.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Table of Contents

  • Overview of Landsat 8–9 Sensors
  • Geometric and Radiometric Characterization and Calibration
  • Landsat 8–9 Data Correction
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Landsat 8–9 geometric and radiometric calibration and characterization
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2026-3001
DOI 10.3133/fs20263001
Publication Date March 05, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description Report: 4 p.
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details