This animation shows before-and-after satellite images over two harvest seasons in 2012 in the eastern Nile Delta. Owing to the reflection of infrared light, vegetation appears bright green in the two images acquired before harvest. But once the crops were reaped, the overall colour dulls with the drop in vegetation. The grey spots that are visible throughout the time series are towns and other inhabited areas.
The arid and desert areas in the right and lower portions of the images also remain constant throughout the year since there is little to no vegetation here – and no agriculture. The upper portion of the images also shows unchanging dark areas, but we can see the lines of division resembling agricultural structures. These areas could be covered by water – such as rice paddies – or the vegetation could be covered for protection.

This animation is featured on the Earth from Space video programme.