Florida and Landsat

Abstract

More than 21 million people call Florida home, but many more visit the peninsula each year—including a record 131 million in 2019. Residents and tourists enjoy the State’s warm weather and varied attractions amid incredibly diverse biological and natural resources. Numerous lakes and rivers, and 8,400 miles of ocean shoreline, play a prominent role, as do unique habitats like the Everglades, which are home to protected species such as the Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ), American crocodile ( Crocodylus acutus ), and Florida panther ( Puma concolor couguar ). The State also supports cattle, sugarcane, and citrus production—along with nearly one-half of the tree species in the United States. A changing climate is expected to bring rising sea levels and more extreme weather events. In a State where the average elevation is 100 feet above sea level, climate change could affect everything from urban shores and beaches to agriculture and forests. In addition, as cities grow, more land cover tends to shift from natural vegetation to impervious surfaces such as pavement, which can add to environmental risks such as flooding. Landsat can help Florida’s agencies, organizations, and residents monitor the State’s fragile landscapes and plan for a resilient future. Here are just a few examples of how Landsat benefits Florida.