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 to the left contains images documenting four areas of rapid change (Gulf of Fonseca, Santa Rosa de la Sierra, Rondonia, and Iguazú). The TerraLook images to the right and below show change near the confluence of the Iguazú and Paraná Rivers, which separate Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.	GLS 1975 23 Feb 1973 GLS 1990 19 Apr 1989 GLS 2005 13 Jun 2006 ASTER 5 Sep 2007
GLS 2000 6 Jul 2000
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 Global Land Survey (GLS) data are used, which includes images from four time periods (circa 1975, 1990, 2000 and 2005).

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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