Landsat Satellite Imagery Archive for Brazil

1973 to present imagery from the Brazilian Landsat receiving station in Cuiabá, operated by the Brazilian National Institute on Space Research (INPE). The archive includes Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Return Beam Vidicon (RBV), and Thematic Mapper (TM) data. Digital processing for frames began in October 1995.

Use Cases

• Analyze land cover change over Brazil using time-series of Thematic Mapper images from 1984 onward.
• Study historical land use with approximately 150,000 black-and-white and color MSS photographic images from the 1973-1987 period.
• Monitor regional environmental indicators by processing digital frames available from the system operational since October 1995.
• Compare sensor data by utilizing MSS, RBV (Landsat 3 era), and Thematic Mapper imagery from the same station.

Strengths

• Long temporal coverage from 1973 to the present.
• Includes approximately 150,000 historical MSS photographic images.
• Covers Brazil comprehensively and other countries by special request historically.

Limitations

• MSS data is only available via reproduction of photographic originals, not in native digital format.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and complete spatial coverage details for digital products are unknown.
• Data availability and formats for periods and regions outside routine Brazilian coverage are unclear.

Provenance

Source

Brazilian National Institute on Space Research (INPE) via the Cuiabá ground station.

Collection Method

Acquired via satellite reception from Landsat missions (MSS, RBV, Thematic Mapper).

Time Range

1973 - present

Freshness

null

Geography

Primarily Brazil, with historical acquisitions over other South American countries by special request.