Scientists are embarking on a groundbreaking mission to create detailed 3D maps of the most remote tropical forests worldwide using a radar scanner attached to the Biomass probe. Scheduled for launch later this month, this 1.25-tonne spacecraft will orbit the Earth for the next five years, focusing on the dense canopies of Africa, Asia, and South America to unveil the hidden vegetation beneath.
The Biomass probe’s unique vantage point from over 600km above will enable it to study these sun-starved forests in unprecedented detail. By measuring the carbon stored in these regions, scientists aim to track changes in carbon levels due to deforestation and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, shedding light on the impact of human activities on these vital ecosystems.
Constructed by a consortium led by Airbus UK and funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), Biomass will not only provide insights into forest carbon content but also map sub-surface geology and track biodiversity loss caused by mining and agriculture encroachment. ESA’s director of Earth Observation Programmes emphasizes the importance of understanding the health and diversity of tropical forests to assess their role as crucial carbon sinks.
Tropical forests act as a critical buffer against global warming by absorbing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide but are facing threats from deforestation and environmental degradation. Regions like South America, Africa, and Asia are witnessing significant deforestation due to agricultural activities, endangering the balance of carbon storage in these ecosystems.
The Biomass mission, equipped with a P-band synthetic aperture radar, will utilize long-wavelength signals to penetrate forest canopies and estimate carbon levels on forest floors and branches. By weighing the forests’ carbon content from space, researchers will gain valuable insights into carbon dynamics and the flow of this essential element between the forests and the atmosphere.
Professor Shaun Quegan from Sheffield University highlights the significance of this mission in quantifying changes in tropical forest carbon content over time. Integrating Biomass data with AI and machine learning tools will enable researchers to predict future climate scenarios, providing crucial insights into the Earth’s trajectory as temperatures rise.
The launch of Biomass from ESA’s spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana on 29 April marks a significant milestone in space-based forest monitoring. With its innovative technology and ambitious objectives, the Biomass probe represents a major step forward in understanding and safeguarding the world’s tropical forests amid mounting environmental challenges.
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