NASA Satellite measures Earth’s carbon metabolism

NASA scientists unveiled the first consistent and continuous global measurements of Earth's «metabolism«. Data from the Terra and Aqua satellites are helping scientists frequently update maps of the rate at which plant life on Earth is absorbing carbon out of the atmosphere. The scientists produce composite maps of our world's «net primary production» every 8 days. This new measurement is called net production because it indicates how much carbon dioxide is taken in by vegetation during photosynthesis minus how much is given off during respiration.
Scientists expect this global measure of the biological productivity of plants to yield new insights into how the Earth's carbon cycle works, a critical step toward solving the climate change puzzle. For the first time a regular, consistent, calibrated and near-real-time measure of a major component of the global carbon cycle is made. This measure can also be the basis for monitoring the expansion of deserts, the effects of droughts, and any impacts climate change may have on vegetation growth, health, and seasonality.
Source: NASA Earth Observatory