ESA’s next Earth-observing satellite likely to focus on forest canopy

Science : The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Earth Science Advisory Committee recently examined three proposed Earth-observing satellites. According to Volker Liebig, head of ESA’s Earth observation program, the committee has selected Biomass, a €420 million ($540 million) satellite that will measure the carbon content and height of global forests. ESA’s Earth Observing Program Board is expected to give final approval for the mission in May. Biomass will be the first satellite to use 70-cm “P-band” radio waves, which had previously been reserved for other uses. That means it will have to turn off its signal over North America and Europe to avoid interfering with other P-band systems. However, forests in both regions have already been heavily studied. Instead, Biomass will focus on Asia, Africa, and South America. The satellite will use varying polarizations of radio waves to determine the weight of the wood material present in the forests. By scanning the same areas multiple times from different angles, researchers will be able to calculate canopy heights and map the materials in different layers of forest cover. That information will be useful in understanding the effects of deforestation and the resulting loss of carbon.