What is the purpose of the OLI sensor onboard Landsat 8?

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) onboard Landsat 8 is specifically designed to capture multispectral data across a range of wavelengths. This capability allows it to gather information in different spectral bands, which is essential for various applications such as land cover classification, vegetation monitoring, and environmental assessment. The OLI sensor can collect data in visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared bands, facilitating detailed analysis of surface features and conditions.

In contrast, the aspects highlighted in the other choices do not accurately describe the primary function of the OLI sensor. While capturing higher resolution panchromatic images is a feature of Landsat 8, it is not the main purpose of the OLI sensor, as it specializes in multispectral data. Similarly, measuring atmospheric conditions is not a direct function of the OLI; this is more relevant to other instruments designed specifically for atmospheric studies. Lastly, enhancing thermal imaging capabilities pertains to the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), another component of the Landsat 8 satellite, rather than the OLI. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the OLI's role in gathering multispectral data, which is fundamental to remote sensing and geographic analysis.