Earth's Vital Signs

Wallpaper Description:

Earths Vital Signs.
Stunning pictures are only part of Terra’s story, however. The small globes show just a few of the Earth’s “vital signs” that Terra’s five sensors monitor. In all five globes, gray indicates no data.
• Biosphere. MODIS tracks photosynthesis by measuring growing vegetation on land and chlorophyll from phytoplankton in the ocean. Dark green on land (June 2009) and light colors in the ocean (March 2009) show the most productive areas.
• Carbon Monoxide. Released by burning plants and fossil fuels, long-lived carbon monoxide (CO) is commonly used to trace the path of pollution as it spread from its source. The Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) sensor collected these measurements in June 2009. The highest concentrations of carbon monoxide are dark orange.
• Aerosols. Particles like pollution or dust—aerosols—affect both air quality and climate. Between March and May 2007, the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer(MISR) measured high aerosol concentrations (purple) from Saharan dust over the Atlantic Ocean and smoke and pollution over the Americas.
• Elevation. With its stereo imagers, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), can take an image of the same ground area from two different angles. This stereo view allowed scientists to generate the most extensive satellite-based topographic model of the Earth to date.
• Net Radiation. The balance between solar energy entering and thermal (heat) energy leaving Earth is the net radiation. This balance determines our planet’s average temperature. These observations from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) sensor show net radiation in March 2009. Orange shows energy surpluses (more energy in than out), while green shows energy deficits (more going out than coming in).

Shadow_Chaser Uploaded by Shadow_Chaser on Jan 17, 2011. Earth's Vital Signs - Desktop Nexus Nature Download free wallpapers and background images: Earth's Vital Signs. Desktop Nexus Nature background ID 566752. Earths Vital Signs.
Stunning pictures are only part of Terra’s story, however. The small globes show just a few of the Earth’s “vital signs” that Terra’s five sensors monitor. In all five globes, gray indicates no data.
• Biosphere. MODIS tracks photosynthesis by measuring growing vegetation on land and chlorophyll from phytoplankton in the ocean. Dark green on land (June 2009) and light colors in the ocean (March 2009) show the most productive areas.
• Carbon Monoxide. Released by burning plants and fossil fuels, long-lived carbon monoxide (CO) is commonly used to trace the path of pollution as it spread from its source. The Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) sensor collected these measurements in June 2009. The highest concentrations of carbon monoxide are dark orange.
• Aerosols. Particles like pollution or dust—aerosols—affect both air quality and climate. Between March and May 2007, the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer(MISR) measured high aerosol concentrations (purple) from Saharan dust over the Atlantic Ocean and smoke and pollution over the Americas.
• Elevation. With its stereo imagers, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), can take an image of the same ground area from two different angles. This stereo view allowed scientists to generate the most extensive satellite-based topographic model of the Earth to date.
• Net Radiation. The balance between solar energy entering and thermal (heat) energy leaving Earth is the net radiation. This balance determines our planet’s average temperature. These observations from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) sensor show net radiation in March 2009. Orange shows energy surpluses (more energy in than out), while green shows energy deficits (more going out than coming in). Rating: 4.1