This visualization based on data from the MODIS instrument and four years of carbon dioxide measurements from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on NASA's <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aqua_(satellite)" title="Category:Aqua (satellite)">Aqua satellite</a>, reveals how carbon dioxide concentrations fluctuate due to vegetation cover on land. Here, flashing white squares represent carbon dioxide levels in the <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere" title="Atmosphere">atmosphere</a>. Notice a sharp reduction in squares as vegetation thrives during the <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Northern_hemisphere&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Category:Northern hemisphere (page does not exist)">Northern Hemisphere</a> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Summer" title="Summer">summer</a>. Conversely, more squares are present in <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Winter" title="Winter">winter</a> as vegetation losses lead to rising carbon dioxide levels across the globe.
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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