[GIS] Band conversion from different landsat imagery (Landsat 5,7 and 8)

landsatremote sensing

I am mapping mangrove areas over time (from 2003 to 2014 ) and thus use different Landsat imagery.
Band combinations Iuse and am satisfied with in Landsat 7 include band:

4,5,3
4,5,1
7,4,2

When using Landsat 5 or 8 these combinations look completely different.
Do I need, and if so, how to convert the bands when using a different Landsat?

Best Answer

The full details can be found on the USGS FAQ. Here is a short answer.

Band numbers in Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+ correspond with the same wavelength (approximately). Unfortunately, ​Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) operational imaging ended in November 2011. Landsat 5 MSS was powered back on in 2012 and collected data until January 2013. However, there are less bands on Landsat 5 MSS: you will not find the equivalent to Landsat ETM+ bands number 1, 5, 6 and 7 on the Landsat MSS 5 sensor.

Landsat 7 | Landsat 8 | Landsat 5 MSS

1 | 2

2 | 3 | 1

3 | 4 | 2

4 | 5 (both are NIR bands, but narrower band with OLI (landsat 8) than with ETM+) | (3)4

5 | 6

6 | split in 10 and 11 (note that TIRS failed after december 18, 2014 on Landsat 8. EDIT: As mentioned by @Kersten, nominal TIRS acquisition resumed March 7, 2015 and data should be available again around mid-May 2015)

7 | 7