These are the new areas with the most vegetation on Earth: the ‘green belt’ is shifting further and further
The study introduces a new tool for analyzing vegetation across the planet and the different changes that can occur on Earth’s surface.
As time passes, plant life continues to evolve and develop around the world. The so-called “green belt of the planet” is constantly shifting across Earth, and to better understand this movement, a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences proposes a new method of analysis.
The research, led by the Leipzig University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, with participation from the University of Valencia, focuses on calculating the midpoint of Earth’s greenness. To do this, the study treats vegetation as if it had weight, making it easier to track its central point across the globe.
The study uses satellite imagery and climate simulations from past decades, confirming the existence of a consistent pattern in the planet’s green belt between the two hemispheres depending on the season. The findings reflect the global behavior of the biosphere, showing that vegetation reaches its farthest northward shift in July, near Iceland, while its southernmost point occurs around March in West Africa.
Its movement is not symmetrical
To better understand the planet’s green belt, imagine an invisible line running across Earth. This line moves northward, but not in a perfectly straight way. The study’s results show that the green belt also shifts eastward at the same time.
This pattern does not appear to be random. Instead, it seems to be linked to especially strong plant growth in Asia and Europe.
Among the main causes, researchers point to milder winters and longer growing seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. These factors support denser vegetation over increasingly longer periods of time.
Carbon dioxide also plays a role in the green belt’s movement. According to the experts, rising levels of this gas in the atmosphere act as a natural fertilizer, encouraging plant growth to expand into different parts of the planet.
Although the green belt shows a general northward trend, its movement is not symmetrical, since it does not extend southward in the same way. This trend reflects a greater number of vegetation changes in the Northern Hemisphere.
The study offers a new perspective for analyzing the planet, and several scientists have raised the possibility of applying this approach to the study of other global phenomena, such as temperature anomalies or changes in the oceans.
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