First-of-its-Kind Map Depicts Global Forest Heights

from NASA:

Using NASA satellite data, scientists have produced a first-of-its kind map that details the height of the world’s forests. Although there are other local- and regional-scale forest canopy maps, the new map is the first that spans the entire globe based on one uniform method.

The work -- based on data collected by NASA's ICESat, Terra, and Aqua satellites -- should help scientists build an inventory of how much carbon the world’s forests store and how fast that carbon cycles through ecosystems and back into the atmosphere. Michael Lefsky of the Colorado State University described his results in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

i love maps!
and trees...and NASA.

there's so much that has been discovered since satellite data has been available.

anything that might help us take better care of our home is to me!

The new map shows the world’s tallest forests clustered in the Pacific Northwest of North America and portions of Southeast Asia, while shorter forests are found in broad swaths across northern Canada and Eurasia. The map depicts average height over 5 square kilometers (1.9 square miles) regions), not the maximum heights that any one tree or small patch of trees might attain.

Temperate conifer forests -- which are extremely moist and contain massive trees such as Douglas fir, western hemlock, redwoods, and sequoias--have the tallest canopies, soaring easily above 40 meters (131 feet). In contrast, boreal forests dominated by spruce, fir, pine, and larch had canopies typically less than 20 meters (66 feet). Relatively undisturbed areas in tropical rain forests were about 25 meters (82 feet), roughly the same height as the oak, beeches, and birches of temperate broadleaf forests common in Europe and much of the United States.

interesting to note that conifers are the tallest trees - they are the oldest, too, as far as i've discovered. it makes sense that the more northern latitudes would not yield as tall of a tree as in the more temperate climates. temperate latitudes seem to be the optimum for tree growth, judging from this data. too bad so much of America's native forests were cleared in favor of settling and farming - no telling what kind of heights some of them might have reached, depending on the species.



just a reminder:

Plant MORE trees!

right would should plant more trees we also should use hemp to make paper..... reuseable resource plus u burn the paper we got global peace nice post

yes!

more hemp, too!

it is good for more than just paper, too - fabric and products from hemp oil would be another boon for the environment.