Brazilian Rainforest Area Canopy Change 2013-2014-2016

  • Released Tuesday, June 12, 2018
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This data visualization starts in 2013 with an airplane collecting lidar data. As the plane flies overhead, the viewer finds themselves amongst the recently collected treetop canopy. The viewer then moves forward through the canopy eventually lifting up to get a birds eye view of the recently collected strip of data points (represented as leaf-like shapes). Areas of change from 2013 to 2014 are then highlighted and the data transitions to what the canopy looked like in 2014. Areas of change between 2014 to 2016 are then highlighted before the data transitions again to what the canopy looked like in 2016. Each successive change allows scientists to carefully monitor the turn over rate of foliage over this three year period.

This visualization shows the resolution of LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) canopy data over the Brazilian Rainforest and how successive passes in 2013, 2014, and 2016 can be used to track change to the treetop canopy over time. Together these data points provide scientists with information on foliage distribution and the elements of tree canopy. Similar LIDAR technologies are used to measure terrain topographies on the Moon and Mars.

Print resolution image of 2013 rainforest canopy data.

Print resolution image of 2013 rainforest canopy data.

Print resolution image of 2013 rainforest canopy with 2013-2014 change areas highlighted.

Print resolution image of 2013 rainforest canopy with 2013-2014 change areas highlighted.

Print resolution image of 2014 rainforest canopy.

Print resolution image of 2014 rainforest canopy.

Print resolution image of 2014 rainforest canopy with 2014-2016 change areas highlighted.

Print resolution image of 2014 rainforest canopy with 2014-2016 change areas highlighted.

Print resolution image of 2016 rainforest canopy.

Print resolution image of 2016 rainforest canopy.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12:11 AM EST.

Series

This visualization can be found in the following series:

Papers used in this visualization

https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.15110

Datasets used in this visualization

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