
In much of the U.S., spring began unusually early in 2020. These images compare an area near the border of North and South Carolina in early March of 2018 and 2020. In the latter year, the area saw its earliest eruption on record of leaves and flowers. The two images wouldn't look very different in natural color. But in these false-color images, made from both visible and infrared light, springtime vegetation is highlighted with darker and more widespread shades of green. Images taken by the Landsat 8 satellite. Source: U.S. Geological Survey’s National Land Imaging Image Collections

In much of the U.S., spring began unusually early in 2020. These images compare an area near the border of North and South Carolina in early March of 2018 and 2020. In the latter year, the area saw its earliest eruption on record of leaves and flowers. The two images wouldn't look very different in natural color. But in these false-color images, made from both visible and infrared light, springtime vegetation is highlighted with darker and more widespread shades of green. Images taken by the Landsat 8 satellite. Source: U.S. Geological Survey’s National Land Imaging Image Collections
Before and After
Greening Landscape Shows Early Spring Near North Carolina-South Carolina Border
March 2, 2018 - March 7, 2020
In much of the U.S., spring began unusually early in 2020. These images compare an area near the border of North and South Carolina in early March of 2018 and 2020. In the latter year, the area saw its earliest eruption on record of leaves and flowers. The two images wouldn't look very different in natural color. But in these false-color images, made from both visible and infrared light, springtime vegetation is highlighted with darker and more widespread shades of green. Images taken by the Landsat 8 satellite. Source: U.S. Geological Survey’s National Land Imaging Image Collections