USGS Unveils 2026 Satellite Portrait Showing 50 Years of U.S. Landscape Change
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jul 2
USGS Unveils 2026 Satellite Portrait Showing 50 Years of U.S. Landscape Change
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jul 2
Summary
The new Landsat mosaic, released for America’s 250th anniversary, updates the 1976 bicentennial portrait with a nationwide view built from Landsat 8 and 9 data.
Billions of pixels from cloud-free growing-season observations were analyzed and stitched into a seamless image, with elevation data added to sharpen depth and contrast.
The comparison highlights major visible shifts, including a much smaller Great Salt Lake after decades of drought, warming and upstream water diversions cut inflows and increased evaporation.
USGS said the portrait also showcases Landsat’s long-term value for tracking urban growth, agriculture, reservoirs, wildfires and coastlines since the program began in 1972.
NASA and USGS plan to extend that record with Landsat 10, a next-generation Earth-observing mission targeted for launch in 2031.
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America at 250 Seen from Space: 50 Years of Landsat Satellite Imagery Transforming Science, Society, and the Landscape
Overview
In 2026, the USGS unveiled 'America at 250, Seen from Space' to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. This new satellite portrait is a modern successor to the 1976 bicentennial mosaic, offering a unique visual narrative of 50 years of landscape transformation across the country. Built from more than five decades of continuous Earth observations since 1972, the portrait was created by meticulously assembling billions of cloud-free pixels. This essential resource helps people understand how the nation has evolved and supports future decisions about America's changing landscape.