NASA PACE satellite dey give researchers new way to follow autumn colour across large areas. October 26 Earth Observatory report explain how its Ocean Color Instrument fit also detect changes for plants. The work use particular wavelengths study pigments, no be only to identify fine red landscape for visitors.
Leaves contain several pigments wey respond to light differently. Chlorophyll produce the green colour wey people know, carotenoids add yellow and orange, while anthocyanins add red. As season conditions change, how much each one influence the leaf also change. Sensitive instrument fit measure the patterns wey result.
PACE observe many narrow wavelength bands and return to broad areas frequently. Researchers therefore fit compare different dates to follow where redness dey increase or fade. October examples show seasonal changes moving across northern regions. E no mean every forest reach brightest colour for the same day.
Every red patch no mean autumn woodland. Crops fit change as dem age or after harvest, while drought stress or insects fit also affect pigments. Clouds fit leave gaps inside data. To read vegetation map properly, person need consider land use, local conditions and limits of the observations.
NASA team dey seek photographs from people for ground to help check those interpretations. Pictures of shrubs, grasses and other plants fit useful alongside colourful tree photos. The aim na to connect satellite signal with the actual plants wey dey grow for one location, no be just collect attractive pictures.
Over time, repeated measurements fit improve understanding of season timing and how plants respond to changes. That work broader than planning trip to look at leaves. The achievement now na method to track pigments repeatedly, with ground evidence helping scientists separate normal seasonal display from other things wey change colour.