Above the Earth, Below the Surface: Landsat's Role in Monitoring Water Quality

Only 3% of water on Earth's surface is fresh - a vital resource for electricity, farming, and life. As global temperatures rise, disruptions like algal blooms, glacial melt, and drought threaten our aquatic ecosystems. Safeguarding these resources is crucial, and while scientists use a variety of ground-based techniques to gauge water quality, the Landsat program has provided water quality data from orbit for decades. Here are just a few ways Landsat satellites lend us a hand when it comes to monitoring water quality.

Music Credits:

“Progress and Perfection” - Chieli Minucci [ASCAP], Emanuel Kallins [BMI], Gotham Music
“Factor Things” - Chieli Minucci [ASCAP], Emanuel Kallins [BMI], Gotham Music
“Unresolved” - Eric Chevalier [SACEM], Koka
“The Great Journey” - Jonathan Elias [ASCAP], Mike Joseph Fraumeni [ASCAP], ELIAS Music
“Trusting in Tech” - Aron Wright [PRS], Florian Moenks [GEMA], Freshworx
“New Beginning” - Mark Russell [PRS], Warner Bros. Production Music

Video Reference:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14403