Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years and that in every area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.
Scientists
in
the
United
States
say
plant
life
has
increased
on
Earth
in
the
past
twenty
years
and
that
in
every
area
of
plant
growth
the
increase
is
the
result
of
weather
conditions
.
Eight scientists from across the United States did the study.
Eight
scientists
from
across
the
United
States
did
the
study
.
The space agency NASA and the Department of Energy paid for it.
The
space
agency
NASA
and
the
Department
of
Energy
paid
for
it
.
The findings were published in the magazine Science.
The
findings
were
published
in
the
magazine
Science
.
The researchers spent one and a half years examining weather satellite information.
The
researchers
spent
one
and
a
half
years
examining
weather
satellite
information
.
The information was recorded from 1982 to 1999.
The
information
was
recorded
from
1982
to
1999
.
That period was one of the warmest on record.
That
period
was
one
of
the
warmest
on
record
.
Researchers found that rainfall generally increased during that time.
Researchers
found
that
rainfall
generally
increased
during
that
time
.
The satellites measured the number of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in.
The
satellites
measured
the
number
of
leaves
on
plants
and
the
amount
of
sunlight
taken
in
.
The scientists used that information to estimate what is called net primary production.
The
scientists
used
that
information
to
estimate
what
is
called
net
primary
production
.
This is total amount of carbon stored in land plants.
This
is
total
amount
of
carbon
stored
in
land
plants
.
The scientists report a 6% increase in stored carbon since 1982.
The
scientists
report
a
6
%
increase
in
stored
carbon
since
1982
.
They say gains were high in equatorial areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America.
They
say
gains
were
high
in
equatorial
areas
,
especially
around
the
Amazon
River
in
South
America
.
The area alone had a 1% increase in the net primary production.
The
area
alone
had
a
1
%
increase
in
the
net
primary
production
.
Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula headed the study.
Ramakrishna
Nemani
of
the
University
of
Montana
in
Missoula
headed
the
study
.
He says reduced cloud cover led to growth in Amazon area.
He
says
reduced
cloud
cover
led
to
growth
in
Amazon
area
.
He also says the lack of clouds allowed more sunlight to get through.
He
also
says
the
lack
of
clouds
allowed
more
sunlight
to
get
through
.
More sunlight meant increases in photosynthesis.
More
sunlight
meant
increases
in
photosynthesis
.
That is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.
That
is
the
process
by
which
plants
use
energy
from
sunlight
to
produce
the
chemicals
they
need
to
grow
.
Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant growth.
Northern
Canada
,
the
north-central
United
States
and
northern
Europe
were
second
in
increased
plant
growth
.
Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperature helped plants there.
Ramakrishna
Nemani
says
a
rise
in
temperature
helped
plants
there
.
All together, the report says 25% of areas of plant life on Earth experienced increases.
All
together
,
the
report
says
25
%
of
areas
of
plant
life
on
Earth
experienced
increases
.
But the scientists also note increase in the number of people on Earth and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
But
the
scientists
also
note
increase
in
the
number
of
people
on
Earth
and
carbon
dioxide
levels
in
the
atmosphere
.
Ranga Myneni of Boston University in Massachusetts, another study scientist says humans use about half the net primary production on Earth.
Ranga
Myneni
of
Boston
University
in
Massachusetts
,
another
study
scientist
says
humans
use
about
half
the
net
primary
production
on
Earth
.
And he notes that the world population grew by 36% during the period of time studied.
And
he
notes
that
the
world
population
grew
by
36
%
during
the
period
of
time
studied
.
Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years and that in every area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.  Eight scientists from across the United States did the study. The space agency NASA and the Department of Energy paid for it. The findings were published in the magazine Science.  The researchers spent one and a half years examining weather satellite information. The information was recorded from 1982 to 1999. That period was one of the warmest on record. Researchers found that rainfall generally increased during that time.  The satellites measured the number of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in. The scientists used that information to estimate what is called net primary production. This is total amount of carbon stored in land plants.  The scientists report a 6% increase in stored carbon since 1982. They say gains were high in equatorial areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America. The area alone had a 1% increase in the net primary production.  Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula headed the study. He says reduced cloud cover led to growth in Amazon area. He also says the lack of clouds allowed more sunlight to get through. More sunlight meant increases in photosynthesis. That is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.  Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant growth. Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperature helped plants there.  All together, the report says 25% of areas of plant life on Earth experienced increases. But the scientists also note increase in the number of people on Earth and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Ranga Myneni of Boston University in Massachusetts, another study scientist says humans use about half the net primary production on Earth. And he notes that the world population grew by 36% during the period of time studied.