NASA Satellite Measures Earth's Carbon Metabolism

Roland Piquepaille writes "To celebrate Earth Day, the NASA Earth Observatory recently revealed global measurements of the Earth's metabolism. 'Combining space-based measurements of a range of plant properties collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) with a suite of other satellite and surface-based measurements, NASA 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.' Check this column for a summary including the usefulness of such measurements. You'll also find maps showing the seasonal variation of Earth's net primary production."

Comments

The Earth's not fat...

[gpinzone]

It just has a low metabolism.

This is a job for....

[ihatewinXP]

Dr Atkins!

-Oh wait, he died last week... In our hour of need, no less.

Re:Coniferous forests

[Angry White Guy]

That means the fate of the world rests on Canada and our Popeye-looking head-of-state.

We're doomed.

NASA measures Webchat's USER Metabolism

[Anonymous Coward]

NASA scientists unveiled the first consistent and continuous global measurements of Webchat's "user metabolism."

Data from the kc and Thunderwoman satellites are helping scientists frequently update maps of the rate at which luser life on Webchat is absorbing abuse and /kill's out of the admins of webchat.

The rate of luser asphyxiation through ScattKsynthesis is a basic property of life on Webchat of ORG. It is the basis for capturing and storing the energy that fuels their ever growing need for assholish domination. The words they type are a byproduct of this ScattKsynthesis. According to its creators, they are ROOTs and most not listen nor help any luser at anytime without first asking them to perform felatio or in kc's case cunnilingus.

These new net primary productivity maps provide a fascinating new insight into the iron fist connection between the living world and the mental hell that is Webchat of ORG.

It may be aneroxic though...

[Joe the Lesser]

Earth, this is crazy talk! You don't look anything like Saturn! Why must you always do this to yourself! I love you for who you are, not your equator diamater! I'm throwing these diet pills away right now!

Lazy Oceans

[rf0]

Just sitting there doing nothing? I mean what have they ever done for us :)

Rus

We Rule

[dangermurphy]

Looks like the northern hemisphere is kicking the southern hemisphere's ass! Northern hemisphere rules!

What happens when all the carbon is gone?

[Hao Wu]

Do we start burning bed rock instead? What about geotherms from the earth's magma. Why can't we use it (they do in Iceland) as a carbon substitute.

Im confused...

[t0ny]

Once a planet warms up enough with green house gases, we can get some plant life on the planet to assist in the creation of oxygen through this same cycle and eventually make a planet liveable. Though it's not something we'll see in our lifetimes, studies such as these benefit the species as a whole in the long run (i.e. big picture of time).

But... I dont understand... Rush Limbaugh tells us that there is no such thing as the greenhouse effect...