European Space Agency (THIS) presented the first images from its groundbreaking Biomass mission, which marks a significant step forward in our ability to understand, how the Earth's forests are changing and exactly how they contribute to the global carbon cycle. But these first attempts go beyond forests. Note, that the satellite is already showing the potential to unlock new knowledge about some of Earth's most extreme environments.
Head of the Biomass Study Project of the European Space Agency (ЕКА) Michael Fehringer commented: "As usual, we are still in the commissioning phase, налаштовуючи супутник, to ensure that scientists are provided with the highest quality data for accurate carbon quantification, that is stored in the forests of the world".
"Biomass" is the first satellite, equipped with P-band synthesized aperture radar, the signal of which is able to penetrate through the forest canopy to measure tree biomass - trunks, гілок та стебел. These measurements serve as an indicator of carbon storage, assessment of which is the main objective of the mission.
While the satellite is mastered in orbit, ESA's groundbreaking Biomass mission is already returning data. Satellite, its instruments and systems are still being calibrated, therefore, these first data cannot yet be used to quantify carbon or support scientific advances, але вони показують, that "Biomass" is on the way to achieving its goals.
The real power of the Biomass mission is not to identify features from a single image, and in a unique sampling technique and the ability to combine several observations of the same plot to detect forest height and calculate biomass. This allows scientists to quantify carbon stocks in forests and better understand the role of tropical forests in the global carbon cycle.
Source: https://www.esa.int