Seen from Space 2004
Japan Islands during "Golden Week," observed from space
Figure 1 is an image of the Japanese Archipelago captured by the Midori II satellite on May 3, 2003. The image depicts a border line of fresh verdure at the southern part of the Tohoku area. The higher mountain areas such as the Japan Alps are still brown, and areas of fresh verdure differ depending on height above sea level and latitude. The Midori II satellite observed vegetation in Japan and globally. Figure 2 illustrates the monthly vegetation index from April to October 2003. The index indicates the amount and the health of vegetation, and a larger index represents a thicker, more robust vegetation. Observe that the vegetation expands largely in the northern part of the Eurasian continent and North America from April to June, and that vegetation activity is at it's climax and covers all the continents from July to August.
The plants captured in Figs. 1 and 2 provide us with oxygen, food, feed for cattle, water conservation, and a stable climate. Mankind could not survive without these plants. Therefore, we must monitor the Earth's environment continuously and globally with Earth-obervation satellites, and quickly respond to alarms given to us by nature. Related sites:  Fresh-greenery of Japan Observed by Midori-IIWave of Fresh Green Coloring in the Northern Hemisphere
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