Changes in land cover and land use are among the most noticeable forms of global environmental change. Whether natural and human-caused, these modifications of the landscape affect the availability of goods and services, economic welfare, human health, ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate. Researchers use satellite images and other data to assess the rates, causes, and consequences of land cover/land use change in the United States. Understanding the broad consequences of such change is essential for managing and mitigating its impact on societies and natural systems.
NLCD 1992 (National Land Cover Dataset 1992), NLCD 2001 (National Land Cover Dataset 2001), and NLCD 2006 (National Land Cover Dataset 2006) are land cover classification schemes made up of Landsat data along with ancillary data sources including topography, census, agricultural statistics, soil characteristics, wetlands data and other land cover maps and covers the conterminous U.S. for 1992 and includes Puerto Rico and Hawaii for 2001 coverage.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
Changes in land cover and land use are among the most noticeable forms of global environmental change. Whether natural and human-caused, these modifications of the landscape affect the availability of goods and services, economic welfare, human health, ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate. Researchers use satellite images and other data to assess the rates, causes, and consequences of land cover/land use change in the United States. Understanding the broad consequences of such change is essential for managing and mitigating its impact on societies and natural systems.