Vegetation, together with the atmosphere and the oceans, plays a crucial role in Earth’s changing environment. It is influenced by the climate, human activities, and in turn affects global climatic conditions.

Our knowledge of the plant world is very vague. How does plant cover vary over the course of a year? How is it affected by the greenhouse effect? How can we predict crop yields?

To answer these questions, the Vegetation instrument on SPOT has been collecting information continuously since 1998, while circling the globe with an eye on the Earth's flora. This instrument studies changes in crop yields and forests, thus providing insight into interaction between the biosphere and the climate.

^{Last updated: September 2010}