One City, 660 Views

  • Released Thursday, June 27, 2013
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For 41 years, USGS-NASA Landsat satellites have collected images of our planet...millions of them. Such images help everyone from scientists to city planners examine how the landscape changes with time. In one patch of desert, where the Rio Grande makes a border between the United States and Mexico, the Landsat fleet has captured hundreds of photo-like natural-color images. They show fields turning green and brown with the season; new urban and suburban developments expanding around El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; changing angles of sunlight; and clouds moving over the neighboring mountains. They also reveal subtle changes in the sensors as technology improves with each generation of satellite. Watch the video to see a multi-decadal, time-lapse view of this desert city.

Landsat takes a long look at El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.

Landsat takes a long look at El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.

The animation shows nearly every image of El Paso-Juarez taken from 1982 to 2013, including clouds and changing sensors.

2013, Landsat 8 - Sensors collect visible and infrared light reflected by Earth’s surface and thermal infrared emitted by the surface.

2013, Landsat 8 - Sensors collect visible and infrared light reflected by Earth’s surface and thermal infrared emitted by the surface.

2003, Landsat 7 - Over time, the cities expand and cropland shrinks or moves to the east and south.

2003, Landsat 7 - Over time, the cities expand and cropland shrinks or moves to the east and south.

1985, Landsat 5 - Older Landsat imagers were less sensitive to fine details of color and light.

1985, Landsat 5 - Older Landsat imagers were less sensitive to fine details of color and light.

In false color from the Terra satellite, reds show vegetation. Much of it is planted within city limits; that natural landscape is desert.

In false color from the Terra satellite, reds show vegetation. Much of it is planted within city limits; that natural landscape is desert.

For More Information

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Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Earth Observatory
Images courtesy of Robert Simmon and Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory

This page was originally published on Thursday, June 27, 2013.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:52 PM EDT.