Sentinel 2 | Center for Earth Observation

Sentinel 2 data import using ENVI (Version 5.6.1)

These instructions are for those using ENVI version 5.6.1.

Sentinel 2 data use very long folder and filenames that may cause problems in the Windows operating system. You should extract (unzip) the data into a folder near the top of the file structure. By this we mean U:\ rather than something like: U:\Project\Rasters\Sentinel\MyNewData\ImageDate. Once the data are extracted rename the new data folder to a shorter name. Sentinel 2 file name usually takes this fomat:

Where can I get Sentinel 2 data

You can obtain Sentinel 2 data from the ESA and from the USGS. Users must register for free access to data at either site. Currently ESA distributes Sentinel 2 data in entire swaths. These files are very large, sometimes 7+ GB when compressed. You can access these data directly from the ESA Copernicus Open Access hub at: https://scihub.copernicus.eu/ Users should read the online User Guide prior to searching for data.

What is Sentinel 2

Sentinel 2 is part of the Copernicus earth observation program developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the earth’s surface. The Sentinel 2 portion of the program consists of a pair of satellites that are designed to acquire reflected sunlight in the optical wavelengths. It is especially sensitive to variations in vegetation so is extremely useful for studying crops and forests.