Viewing the Earth through satellite imagery can prove useful and interesting to many outside of the remote sensing community, including science writers, field scientists, resource managers, policy makers, students, and the general public.

TerraLook permits users to create their own collections of georeferenced JPEG satellite images. TerraLook images allow for visual interpretation and comparison without the need for complicated software. While user-friendly software has been developed for TerraLook to help use the imagery, any program capable of opening JPEGs can be used. The georeferenced TerraLook collections are compatible with most GIS and Web mapping applications. All TerraLook data and software is available at no cost.

The collection above contains images documenting four areas of rapid changes (Gulf of Foncesca, Santa Rosa de la Sierra, Rondonia, and Iguazú). The TerraLook images to the right show change near the confluence of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, which separate Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.  The Landsat images, outlined in red, yellow and green above, have been clipped to the extent of the ASTER image, outlined in cyan.

Landsat MSS 23 Feb 1973 Landsat TM 19 Apr 1989 Landsat ETM+ 6 Jul 2000 Terra ASTER 17 Sep 2003 Click on the images for a larger view.

A TerraLook collection can contain one to hundreds of satellite images from a single region or many regions of the globe. These satellite images enable users to see how Earth's surface has changed from the early 1970s to the present. A TerraLook collection may consist of images selected from several satellite sensors:

• ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) has been collecting data since 2000.
• Landsat, a series of satellites dating from the early 1970s.  For TerraLook, the Tri-Decadal Global Landsat Orthorectified data are used, which includes images from three time periods (circa 1975, 1990, and 2000).

You can select and order TerraLook collections using the Global Visualization Viewer, GloVis. Before using GloVis for the first time we suggest you quickly scan the How to order guide. A few moments spent with the guide will save you much time later. Note that many preselected collections have been created and archived. These preselected collections are available for download, also at no cost.

Data Citation

There are no restrictions on TerraLook data acquired from the USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). We request that the following statement be used when citing or redistributing TerraLook data.

Acknowledgement:
TerraLook collections, a joint NASA and USGS product, are distributed by USGS/EROS, Sioux Falls, SD and consist of data from USGS/EROS and the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC)

Questions concerning the use or redistribution of TerraLook data should be directed to:
USGS/EROS Customer Services
Mundt Federal Building
Sioux Falls, SD 57198
Toll Free: 800-252-4547
Telephone: 605-594-6151
Facsimile: 605-594-6589
Email: custserv@usgs.gov

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