The satellite that will 'weigh' 1.5T trees
a year ago
- #satellite technology
- #rainforest conservation
- #climate change
- The European Space Agency (ESA) launched a satellite to measure carbon stored in the world's 1.5 trillion trees using a special radar system.
- The satellite, nicknamed 'space brolly,' has a 12m diameter antenna that uses P-band radar to penetrate forest canopies and measure branches and trunks.
- This technology will help scientists accurately assess carbon storage in major rainforests like the Amazon, Congo, and Indonesia.
- Current methods involve measuring individual trees and extrapolating, which is challenging and inconsistent.
- The satellite will produce annual maps over five years, showing carbon storage and deforestation impacts.
- Unlike other satellites, Biomass can penetrate clouds, providing consistent data in tropical regions.
- The project is a result of international collaboration, with contributions from the UK, Europe, and the US.
- Ground measurements will verify the satellite's data to ensure accuracy.