Jump to content
Join the Alien Search, login or register FREE on Aliens and Space Forum
Members Can Post Anonymously On This Site

ESA’s Biomass on track to target forests

European Space Agency
 Share

Recommended Posts

European Space Agency Experienced

European Space Agency

Posted
Posted
Biomass’ 12-metre wire-mesh reflector

With more than 100 global leaders at COP26 having pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade to help address the climate crisis, the health of the world’s forests is high on the political agenda. ESA’s Biomass mission will soon play a key role in delivering novel information about the of the state of our forests, how they are changing over time, and advance our knowledge of the carbon cycle. With launch scheduled for 2023, the mission is now in its last phases of development, having recently passed several key milestones.

View the full article

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Similar Topics

    • European Space Agency
      Biomass satellite returns striking first images of forests and more
      By European Space Agency
      Today, at the Living Planet Symposium, ESA revealed the first stunning images from its groundbreaking Biomass satellite mission – marking a major leap forward in our ability to understand how Earth’s forests are changing and exactly how they contribute to the global carbon cycle. But these inaugural glimpses go beyond forests. Remarkably, the satellite is already showing potential to unlock new insights into some of Earth’s most extreme environments.
      View the full article
    • NASA
      From Space to Soil: How NASA Sees Forests
      By NASA
      Earth (ESD) Earth Explore Explore Earth Home Air Quality Climate Change Freshwater Life on Earth Severe Storms Snow and Ice The Global Ocean Science at Work Earth Science at Work Technology and Innovation Powering Business Multimedia Image Collections Videos Data For Researchers About Us 1 min read
      From Space to Soil: How NASA Sees Forests
      NASA uses satellite lidar technology to study Earth’s forests, key carbon sinks. The GEDI mission maps forest height and biomass from the International Space Station, while ICESat-2 fills polar data gaps. Together, they enable a first-of-its-kind global biomass map, guiding smarter forest conservation and carbon tracking.

      Original Video and Assets

      Share








      Details
      Last Updated Jun 17, 2025 Editor Earth Science Division Editorial Team Related Terms
      Earth Greenhouse Gases Video Series Explore More
      12 min read NASA’s Hurricane Science, Tech, Data Help American Communities
      With hurricane season underway, NASA is gearing up to produce cutting-edge research to bolster the…


      Article


      5 days ago
      1 min read Leaf Year: Seeing Plants in Hyperspectral Color
      PACE now allows scientists to see three different pigments in vegetation, helping scientists pinpoint even…


      Article


      2 weeks ago
      6 min read What NASA Is Learning from the Biggest Geomagnetic Storm in 20 Years


      Article


      1 month ago
      Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA
      Earth


      Your home. Our Mission. And the one planet that NASA studies more than any other.


      Explore Earth Science



      Earth Science in Action


      NASA’s unique vantage point helps us inform solutions to enhance decision-making, improve livelihoods, and protect our planet.


      Climate Change


      NASA is a global leader in studying Earth’s changing climate.

      View the full article
    • European Space Agency
      ESA unveils longest-ever dataset on forest biomass
      By European Space Agency
      As the new Biomass satellite settles into life in orbit following its launch on 29 April, ESA has released its most extensive satellite-based maps of above-ground forest carbon to date. Spanning nearly two decades, the dataset offers the clearest global picture yet of how forest carbon stocks have changed over time.
      Developed through ESA’s Climate Change Initiative, this new long-term record integrates data from multiple satellite missions – and will soon be further enhanced by data from the Biomass mission itself.
      View the full article
    • European Space Agency
      Biomass launch highlights
      By European Space Agency
      Video: 00:00:00 ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).
      In orbit, this latest Earth Explorer mission will provide vital insights into the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their carbon.
      Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.
      View the full article
    • European Space Agency
      Biomass launched to count forest carbon
      By European Space Agency
      ESA’s groundbreaking Biomass satellite, designed to provide unprecedented insights into the world’s forests and their crucial role in Earth’s carbon cycle, has been launched. The satellite lifted off aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 29 April at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time).
      View the full article

  • Check out these Videos

×
×
  • Create New...