Book 17, Question 45
What Does a Rainforest Look Like From Space?
From space, the Amazon looks like a deep green blanket crossed by winding brown rivers. Towering clouds often rise above it in the afternoon. Satellites help scientists keep track of the forest's size and health.
More fun facts
- From space, the Amazon looks like a huge, lush green carpet.
- Logged or burned areas can look fully recovered from space even when they are not.
- The forest is so green that satellite signals can get saturated and stop showing differences.
- Scientists have used satellites to track Amazon forest loss for decades.
- Brazil's space agency uses satellite data to measure how much forest is cut each year.
Sources: NASA, NASA Science, NASA Science
Questions kids ask
Can satellites always tell if a forest was cut?
Not always. Logged or burned areas can look fully recovered from space even when they are not.