New satellite revolutionizes forest surveillance: forests worldwide in focus

New satellite revolutionizes forest surveillance: forests worldwide in focus

Since this week, the new satellite of the “Biomass Mission” of the European Space Authority (ESA) has been successful in orbit. This mission represents a significant progress with regard to the exact recording of forests and their carbon storage. ESA has published extensive satellite -supported maps of the above -ground forest carbon, which contains a data set for almost two decades, which documents the changes in the forests over time. This historical data was developed as part of the Climate Change Initiative of the ESA and will soon be supplemented and refined by the information from the biomass mission.

The collected data follows the carbon-rich wooden parts of the vegetation, such as tribes and branches, between 2007 and 2022. With a resolution that varies between 100 meters and 50 kilometers, this information supports climate and carbon modeling and national greenhouse gas reports as part of the Paris Agreement. Frank Martin Seifert from ESA describes the publication as a crucial moment for climate science. Richard Lucas from the University of Aberystwyth emphasizes that the accuracy of the representation of the global forest biomass, especially in regions with high density, is significantly improved.

Technology of the biomass mission

The biomass mission uses the first space-based P-band radar, which is equipped with a wavelength of about 70 cm. This technique enables penetrating forest crowns to penetrate the carbon in a complex and dense vegetation. This ability could reduce significant uncertainties in estimating the carbon content in forests, especially in tropical regions. The radar records information about the individual structure of the forests, which is extremely important for the reliable assessment of the biomass. This data also supports the UN Redd+initiative that aims to minimize carbon emissions by deforestation and agricultural degradation in developing countries.

The technical challenge of mapping forests from space is reinforced by complex forest structures and dense tree tops. Optical sensors are often limited by clouds and the dense leaf structure, which makes it difficult to record reliable data. The biomass satellite, on the other hand, uses radar instruments that can penetrate the clouds and the top tree tops to determine the actual biomass of the trees. This improves understanding of the loss of habitats and its effects on the biodiversity of the forests.

Developments in forest monitoring

The importance of forests as biodiversity hotspots and carbon storage is evident using modern technologies and methods in forest monitoring. Companies such as RSS rely on over 20 years of experience in analysis and monitoring of tropical forests by carrying out the design, forest disgrade and forest fire analyzes. The use of high-resolution optical and radar satellite data enables precise identification of the forest state and forest cover. In addition, drones and small aircraft are used for data acquisition, supported by AI-based analysis methods.

The UN Redd+initiative plays a key role in developing financial incentives to promote sustainable forestry. Voluntary carbon markets support these efforts by offering incentives to reduce emissions from the deforestation. The biomass mission and corresponding monitoring projects contribute to the development of future scenarios for sustainable forest use by providing precise information on historical trends in the design, CO2 accounting and ecological effects in the course of management.

With the upcoming publication of new data and the close cooperation between the ESA, the UN Redd+initiative and companies in the field of forest monitoring, the basics for better protection and more effective management of global forests are expected. The integration of these technologies will be crucial to counteract the challenges of climate change and the losses in biodiversity.