The procedure to layer stack the 6 bands of Landsat 7 ETM+ Bands 1 to 5 and 7 is stated as such because they have the same spatial resolution of 30 m each. However, Band 6 and Band 8 have different spatial resolutions of 60 m and 15 m respectively. In theory, you can resample Band 6 and Band 8 to 30 m resolution in order to compare them with the rest of the ETM+ bands, however this is not at all recommended as Band 6 - Thermal and Band 8 - Panchromatic bands display different properties and should be treated/analysed/processed separately.

https://landsat.usgs.gov/landsat-7-history

James Varghese can I know where I can get the procedure to layer stack band 6 and band 8? I have tried stacking band 8 by using the procedure stated here ( https://landsat.usgs.gov/gap-filling-landsat-7-slc-single-scenes-using-erdas-imagine-TM) but it is not working.

Dear Aimi Shukur,

It depends on what kind of software you want to use and there are different ways to do it, but I suggest you use the "ENVI" software. Please download and install the software and follow these steps:

1. File--> Open image file, and choose the "Landsat 7 ETM+" files.tif--> Open

2. In the Available Band List box, the individual bands will be displayed

3. After that, Basic Tools--> Layer Stacking--> Import File...-->Select Input File--> OK

4. select "Memory" and then OK, and please wait for processing

6. Select the RGB Color radio button

7. Select which bands you would like to occupy the suitable channels (Red, Green, Blue) and click Load RGB to display the filled image in the desired RGB channels.

8. When the desired RGB composite is produced, select File on the Image display box and choose Save Image As --> Image File.

9. Choose the output file type (such as Geo TIFF) and then select "OK"

Best wishes

M. Akbari

Meysam Akbari thank you very much. I'll try to process the data with ENVI.