Satellite Imagery Sources and Scene Mosaics
Numerous satellite missions currently provide Earth Observation (EO) data. Among these, Landsat and Sentinel-2 are particularly relevant because of their extensive spatial coverage, long-term data availability, open-data policies, and widespread use in environmental studies.
Landsat and Sentinel-2 data can be used either independently or in a complementary manner. Landsat provides a continuous and consistent observational record spanning more than four decades, whereas Sentinel-2 covers approximately one decade but offers a spatial resolution up to nine times finer.
Anyone studying the territory, landscape, and biodiversity of Cabo Verde and intending to use these data sources should first identify the path/row or relative orbit/tile corresponding to their area of interest and then consult the relevant data repositories to assess the temporal availability of imagery. The interactive map below shows the complete and partial coverage of the islands and islets based on combinations of Landsat WRS-1 and WRS-2 paths and rows, as well as Sentinel-2 relative orbits and tiles.
Landsat Program
WRS-1 TILES mosaic map :: Landsat 1 to 3
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WRS-2 TILES mosaic map :: Landsat 4 to 9
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Copernicus Sentinel-2 Mission
RELATIVE ORBIT / TILES mosaic map
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Use this interactive map to preview the different satellite imagery sources and scene mosaics, and explore the scene identifiers.
Other EO data sources that may be worth considering include Planet Labs and Pléiades. Pléiades provides very-high-resolution satellite imagery with a spatial resolution of 50 cm. Unlike Landsat and Sentinel-2, access to imagery from these sources is generally commercial.
Planet Labs: Satellite Imagery & Earth Data Analytics. Through its Dove and SuperDove satellite constellations, Planet Labs provides near-daily global imagery at a spatial resolution of approximately 3 m through its PlanetScope product. Members of the academic community may apply to the Planet Education and Research Programme, which provides eligible users with free access to a limited amount of imagery for non-commercial research and educational purposes.
Pléiades: Very-High-Resolution Satellite Imagery. Operated by Airbus Defence and Space, the Pléiades satellite constellation provides very-high-resolution optical imagery. Its high level of spatial detail makes it particularly suitable for detailed mapping, land-cover analysis, urban studies, environmental monitoring, and other applications requiring very-high-resolution EO data. Members of the academic and scientific communities may apply for access to Pléiades (and Pléiades Neo) imagery through dedicated research programmes, including the ESA Third Party Missions Programme and, subject to specific eligibility conditions, the DINAMIS platform.
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GISCV.ORG. (YYYY, Month DD). Satellite Imagery Sources and Scene Mosaics. https://www.giscv.org