'Looks like a checkerboard': NASA satellite images show grid pattern in Japan’s Hokkaido

Japan's Hokkaido island "looks remarkable" with its 'grid pattern' from sky as revealed by ims captured by NASA. Satellite ims of a landscape in eastern Hokkaido show an interesting grid pattern that looks like a checkerboard. NASA revealed in a press release that pattern is clear year-round -- even under a blanket of sw.

NASA Earth Observatory shared natural-colour ims of Konsen Plateau taken by Operational Land Imr on Landsat 8 satellite. first im, taken on September 27, 2019, shows a massive grid pattern. pattern in dark green can be seen across rural landscape.

(Photo: Landsat 8/NASA Earth Observatory)

second im was taken on Feb. 27, 2020 and one can see grid pattern clearly even when province is covered by a thick layer of sw. 

(Photo: Landsat 8/NASA Earth Observatory)

According to NASA, " strips are forested windbreaks—180-meter (590-foot) wide rows of coniferous trees that help shelter grasslands and animals from Hokkaido’s sometimes harsh wear. In dition to blocking winds and blowing sw during frigid, foggy winters, y help prevent winds from scattering soil and manure during warmer months in this major dairy farming region of Japan. thinner, less regular strips are forested areas along streams."

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ncy furr explained that grid pattern is inspired by land development and farming practices popular at time in pioneer areas of midwestern and central United States. It furr ted that  Japanese government began creating windbreaks in 1890's. Back n, purpose of se windbreaks was to colonize area and inste of planting forested strips, y simply cleared squares into broleaf forests.

"Over time, as bits of windbreaks were cleared for timber or by wildfires, broleaf forests were replaced by plantings of larch and spruce that make up most of windbreaks today," ncy ded.

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Purpose of windbreaks

windbreaks are primarily used to slow down speed of wind which in turn benefits  crops, livestock and even people. Typically, windbreaks are created by planting trees and shrubs in area. However, in case of Hokkaido, government opted to just clear out squares from alrey existing forests inste of planting forest strips.

Apart from slowing down wind, se windbreaks often also serve several or purposes as y can be used to reduce ise, odor and visual impact from livestock operations. In some places, y can also provide an ditional source of income if trees in windbreak can produce fruits, nuts or even materials for crafts.

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