British-made satellite to map earth’s forests in 3D for the first time to help combat climate change
A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests from space.
This work will be crucial to help understand how tropical forests are changing and will contribute to efforts worldwide to protect future generations from climate change.
From conception to construction, the satellite called Biomass has been built in the UK and was successfully launched on 29 April, from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, through the British Space Agency’s membership of the European Space Agency.
Conceived by University of Sheffield academic Professor Shaun Quegan, Biomass will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new [non-3D] maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission, providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.
Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access. The Biomass satellite’s revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by climate change.
The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy.
By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.
Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.
UK Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said, “the Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage. Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology.”
Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said, “It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionize our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time.
“Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite. Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia.
“The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.”
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, also said, “The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. Mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail will provide critical insights into how our planet responds to climate change, helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action. We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.