Life on Earth is directly influenced by conditions in the oceans and atmosphere. The extent of plant life on Earth can be seen in satellite maps of the global biosphere. These maps are constructed by combining strips of data collected by the SeaWiFS satellite as it orbits the Earth. Each strip reflects data collected from one orbit of the satellite. By averaging many days of overlapping strips of data, areas obscured by cloud cover on one day are revealed on a clear day, and a cloudless map of global plant life created.

For more information on SeaWiFS and the global biosphere see:
SeaWiFS Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
--and--
SeaWiFS Project Image Archive