ESA’s Biomass Mission: Mapping the World’s Forest Carbon

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch its dedicated Biomass mission focused on forest carbon monitoring.

ESA's Biomass mission: Tracking the world's forests

Key Features of the Biomass Mission

1. The mission will be based on a single satellite platform operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
2. This satellite will carry a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument as its primary payload.
3. Biomass is the first satellite to feature a P-band SAR, a powerful radar capable of deep forest penetration.
4. The P-band SAR can measure woody components of forests—trunks, branches, and stems—which store most of the carbon.

Mission Objectives and Significance

1. The satellite will map global forests and provide the first-ever comprehensive dataset of forest biomass.
2. It will also deliver critical insights into the amount of carbon stored in forests across the world.
3. This data is crucial for understanding carbon cycles, supporting climate action, and informing forest conservation policies.

 

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