Category: Processing and quality
Mosaic
A mosaic combines multiple scenes into one continuous image covering a larger area or time window.
Also known as: mosaicking
Expanded definition
Mosaics are used to reduce seams, fill gaps, and provide wall-to-wall coverage. They can be built from multiple scenes on the same day or from a time window.
Mosaicking introduces choices: which pixels win when scenes overlap, how to handle clouds, and how to normalize radiometry so seams are not visible.
A mosaic can be useful for mapping, but it may reduce temporal precision if it blends dates.
Related terms
Composite
A composite is a mosaic built over a time window, often selecting the “best” pixel per location.
Harmonization
Harmonization reduces differences between scenes or sensors so values are more comparable across time.
Cloud Mask
A cloud mask labels pixels likely affected by clouds so they can be excluded or handled differently.
Time Series
A time series is a sequence of observations over time for the same location, used for monitoring and change detection.