Telling stories of change over time is a key element of interpretation – especially climate change interpretation. Landsat satellite imagery can be used to vividly illustrate stories of fires, floods, forest regeneration, development, and other landscape-level shifts over decades. Peder Nelson guides us through tools to access Landsat satellite observations that have been foundational to tracking the dynamic Earth with digital imagery, and create animated GIFs illustrating change.
Peder Nelson, M.S., is the Land Cover science lead for GLOBE Observer, the app of the GLOBE Program. In addition, he is an Instructor of Geography and Geospatial Science and researcher in the Environmental Monitoring, Analysis, and Process Recognition (eMapR) Lab in the College of Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University. With a background in environmental education, biological sciences, and land management, he uses remote sensing and geographic information systems to create maps and data that show people what is happening on planet Earth, particularly changes that can be seen from space. Twitter: @pedervnelson. http://emapr.ceoas.oregonstate.edu/
Links shared during the webinar:
- Earth-observing satellites, including Landsat: https://climate.nasa.gov/earth-now/
- Robert Kennedy video “Secret Life of Forests”: https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/mini-lessonactivity/cause-and-effect-how-do-our-forests-change-over-time-student-activity
- Landsat information: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/nli/landsat/landsat-satellite-missions
- Google Earth Engine Timelapse: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/
- Instructions for making a Landsat GIF: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/make-landsat-gif
- GIF creator tool: https://emaprlab.users.earthengine.app/view/lt-gee-time-series-animator
- Example interpretive storymap “The Great Coastal Gale of 2007: Using remote sensing to explore the impacts of wind in Lewis and Clark National Historical Park”: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1b03a1859e2c43d68aae6d6b3cad4f02