Satellite Observations Reveal Shifts in Global Vegetation Patterns
Satellite Observations Reveal Shifts in Global Vegetation Patterns
US · Published Apr 22, 2026
Satellite data shows the planet's 'green center' is moving north and east, indicating a shift in where plants grow most intensely.
Warmer winters and longer growing seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, along with greening in India, China, and Russia, are driving this change.
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere acts as a fertilizer, contributing to 'global greening,' but this can affect water cycles, temperatures, and biodiversity.
Planet's green center migrates north and east
Recent satellite observations reveal a shift in global vegetation patterns, with the planet's 'green center' moving northward and eastward. This movement, tracked over decades, shows that vigorous seasonal plant growth now occurs in different areas. Miguel Mahecha's study notes the green center's northernmost point near Iceland in mid-July and southernmost point off Liberia in March, with an increasing northward veer, especially from 2010 to 2020. Warmer winters and extended growing seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, along with greening in India, China, and Russia, contribute to this shift.
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