Biomass Satellite: Precisely Measuring Forest Carbon Storage to Combat Climate Change

The European Space Agency and Airbus have developed the Biomass satellite, the first of its kind to directly measure forest carbon storage using P-band radar. Overcoming previous limitations of indirect measurement, Biomass uses its P-band radar to penetrate the canopy and precisely measure carbon stored in trunks and large branches, providing crucial data for assessing the impact of climate change. While the satellite's radar must be switched off over North America and Europe to avoid interference, its data collection in regions like the Amazon rainforest will fill critical information gaps, informing climate policy. This is vital in combating global warming by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.