NASA (by way of ASLA) has released the above map showing the amount of land covered by lawns in the United States. The darker greens indicate more grass coverage, the lighter greens and white denote no lawn coverage. Via the Earth Observatory:
...the scientists who produced the map estimate that more surface area is devoted to lawns than to any other single irrigated crop in the country. For example, lawns appear to cover more than three times the number of acres that irrigated corn covers. The large image shows a more detailed look at fractional lawn surface area in urban areas. In many cities, the urban core—where buildings, parking lots, and roads are densest—appears paler green. While Los Angeles appears to be rife with lawns, it's a much lighter shade of green than say an Atlanta or the northeast corridor, where they seem to love their sprawling lawns. Fascinating. And in somewhat related grass news, CNN reports that due to our record drought, grass and brush on our hillsides is too dry for even goats to eat. The grass is nutrient deficient leading to unhealthy goats.
· NASA Goes Looking for U.S. Lawns...from Space [The Dirt]