NASA satellites map fall leaf redness across North America

NASA said in an announcement published Monday 26 October 2026 that its PACE satellite observed vegetation daily at 286 spectral bands. The instrument tracked changes in anthocyanins, carotenoids and chlorophylls linked to red, yellow, orange and green foliage.

NASA maps showed vegetation redness from September 29 to October 4 and October 5 to 11. Areas with values near 1 had about as much red as green, while areas in light yellow and red had progressively more red pigment relative to green.

The PACE satellite detected particularly high levels of redness in parts of northern and eastern Russia, northern Alaska and northern Canada from September 29 to October 4. In New England and upstate New York, redness began to fade during the week of October 5 to 11 as it spread across much of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

NASA said crops and clouds could also affect the mapped colors. Agricultural areas could show high anthocyanin levels as crops aged and after harvest, while clouds could create apparent gaps in vegetation data.

The OLI on Landsat 9 captured intensely red foliage around Ripton, Vermont, on October 3, 2026, near the peak of redness in the region. NASA said red and red maple trees contributed to the color in the Adirondacks, Green Mountains and White Mountains.

NASA said PACE was the first satellite able to measure all three key leaf pigments across the entire planet every day or two. Vegetation scientist Karl Huemmrich said repeated time-series data allowed scientists to determine peak redness and yellowness anywhere on Earth.