![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2017\/04\/vojvodina_serbia\/16889064-1-eng-GB\/Vojvodina_Serbia_small.jpg\")
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\nThe Copernicus Sentinel-2A satellite takes us over northern Serbia to the region of Vojvodina.\n<\/p>\n
\nClick on the box in the lower-right corner to view this image at its full 10 m resolution directly in your browser.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe area pictured lies in the southern part of a region covered by the Pannonian Sea some 2\u201323 million years ago. Today, the land boasts a fertile soil \u2013 hence the plethora of agricultural fields visible as geometric shapes, reminiscent of cubist artwork.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe Tisza river snakes down from the north. Curved, brushstroke-like light green areas primarily along the east side of the river reveal its former course. Some of these areas are now used for agriculture, while others may still be too wet.\n<\/p>\n
\nWe can also see manmade waterways appearing as straight black lines \u2013 likely for draining the swamps, transportation and irrigation.\n<\/p>\n
\nNestled among the fields, there are a number of small towns with grid layouts. This type of city planning was invented by ancient Greece\u2019s Hippodamus \u2013 known as the \u2018father of European urban planning\u2019.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe image captured on 28 August 2016 is clearly in false colour, and different colours indicate varying vegetative states. For example, yellowish patches indicate soil or freshly ploughed land, while shades of blue (primarily in the lower left) indicate either the same crop or different crops at a similar stage of growth.\n<\/p>\n
\nSentinel-2\u2019s main instrument has 13 spectral bands, and is designed to provide images that can be used to distinguish between different crop types as well as data on numerous plant features, such as active chlorophyll content and leaf water content, all of which are essential to accurately monitor plant growth.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis kind of information helps informed decisions to be made, whether they are about deciding how much water or fertiliser is needed for a maximum harvest or for forming strategies to address climate change.\n<\/p>\n
\nWhile this has obvious economic benefits, this kind of information is also important for developing countries where food security is an issue. \n<\/p>\n