When passed through a crystal, the result is a pattern of spots which, if interpreted correctly, can be used to calculate the positions of the original atoms.

ECONOMIST: REPORT: PROTEOMICS: After the genome | The

And that, in turn, can be used to estimate the amount of carbon stored in the plot examined, and extrapolated to calculate the carbon stored in larger areas of forest that have been scanned by lidar, but not measured with tapes.

ECONOMIST: Forest conservation