Which satellite is instrumental in detecting changes in land use and covering on Earth's surface?

The choice of LANDSAT as the correct answer is grounded in its specific purpose and capabilities. LANDSAT satellites are designed to collect detailed imagery of the Earth's surface, which allows for the monitoring of land use changes and land cover over time. This capability is critical for applications such as urban planning, forestry management, agriculture monitoring, and environmental assessment. The high-resolution images captured by LANDSAT reflect various surface types, from forests to urban areas, making it an essential tool for scientists and policymakers who need to understand the dynamics of land use.

GOES, on the other hand, stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, which primarily focus on weather monitoring and atmospheric phenomena rather than land use changes. ITSO, or the International Telecommunication Satellite Organization, is not a satellite dedicated to Earth observation but rather focuses on satellite communication. Thus, while GOES and ITSO serve important functions in their respective fields, they do not provide the specialized Earth surface monitoring that LANDSAT is uniquely designed for.