American Scientist

This satellite image of the Mojave Desert, near Victorville, CA, owes its brilliant colors to the technique of principal components transformation, which maximizes the contrast among various colors detected by the satellite. With this technique, researchers can quickly reveal spatial patterns—for example, ones of geological features and of vegetation, specifically invasive species, linked to increased frequency of wildfires—that might not be visible in a true-color composite image.

The areas in pink are sparsely vegetated; deep blue and purple show a different geology, dominated by perennial shrubs. Green areas have an abundance of annual forbs and grasses, which are the main driver of wildfire in this desert.