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Watch the Earth BREATHE: Nasa reveals stunning video showing a year of plant life

Animation shows changing plant densities on land and in water
Nasa took data from satellites to create average life cycle for a year
The map appears to be breathing as growth changes based on the seasons

Published: 18:16 EST, 19 November 2015 | Updated: 19:35 EST, 19 November 2015

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Nasa has released an animated map to show the yearly cycle of Earth's plant life—and it's breathing.

The video reveals the life cycle on land and in the water, and combines satellite data to create an average 12-month cycle.

Pulsating masses of colour represent fluctuations in density of plant growth on land, and chlorophyll concentration from phytoplankton in the oceans.

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Density of land vegetation on the map ranges from brown, the minimum, to a rich green. Ocean concentrations are expressed in a similar effect, falling within the range of dark blue to dark green

THE MAP THAT BREATHES

Across the map, plant vegetation varies based on the changing seasons, and availability of sunlight.

When it is winter in higher latitudes, the southern hemisphere experiences summer, meaning higher plant growth.

The reverse occurs when summer begins in the north.

The map shows plant density moving up and down the latitudes, giving the map the 'breathing' effect.

Density of land vegetation on the map ranges from brown, the minimum, to a rich green.

Ocean concentrations are expressed in a similar effect, falling within the range of dark blue to dark green.

In the northern hemisphere winter, from December to February, plant life is at a minimum for regions in higher latitudes due to reduced sunlight.

These land areas are shown as light beige during this time, while the oceans are primarily blue.

During the same period, even vegetation in the tropical, mid-latitude regions show plant life to be dormant, though South America boasts the rich green colour of dense growth.

In the southern hemisphere, however, where summer is peaking, the map shows dark green for both land and ocean plant life.

When summer reaches the northern hemisphere from June to September, the opposite occurs.

The plant life thrives in the higher latitudes, on both land and in water, with dark green shown across the top of the map.

At this time, the southern hemisphere experiences its winter, meaning decreased plant activity.

As the months continually change on the animation, the plant life is shown to move up and down across the latitudes, following the sunlight with the changing seasons.

This gives the map a life-like pulsating effect, so it appears to be breathing.

In the northern hemisphere winter, from December to February, plant life is at a minimum for regions in higher latitudes due to reduced sunlight. These land areas are shown as light beige during this time, while the oceans are primarily blue

When summer reaches the northern hemisphere from June to September, the opposite occurs. The plant life thrives in the higher latitudes, on both land and in water, with dark green shown across the top of the map.