Earth

Photosynthetic Activity in US Midwest

By Keith Cowing
August 2, 2014
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Photosynthetic Activity in US Midwest
Photosynthetic Activity in US Midwest
NASA/ASU/LROC

Amazing the things you can ‘see’ from space, if you just know how to look … Satellite data show that during the Northern Hemisphere’s growing season, the U.S. Midwest boasts more photosynthetic activity than any other spot on Earth.

The magnitude of fluorescence portrayed in this visualization prompted researchers to take a closer look at the productivity of the U.S. Corn Belt. The glow represents fluorescence measured from land plants in early July, over a period from 2007 to 2011.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Larger image

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