Latest news with #MichaelFehringer
Broadcast Pro
4 days ago
- Science
- Broadcast Pro
ESA unveils first images from Biomass satellite
Biomass is the first satellite to carry a P-band synthetic aperture radar, its signal capable of penetrating forest canopies to measure woody biomass trunks, branches and stems. At the Living Planet Symposium, the European Space Agency (ESA) unveiled the first images captured by its newly launched Biomass satellite, offering an early glimpse into what promises to be a major advance in understanding Earths forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. Although the mission is still in its early commissioning phase, the initial results signal strong potential for scientific insights, not only into forested regions but also some of the planet's most remote and extreme landscapes. Launched under ESAs FutureEO programme less than two months ago, the Biomass mission is the latest in the agencys Earth Explorer series. Its primary aim is to measure the amount of carbon stored in forests by observing woody biomass including trunks, branches, and stems a critical step in monitoring climate change and forest health. This is made possible by the satellites unique payload: a pioneering P-band synthetic aperture radar, which can penetrate dense forest canopies to generate precise biomass data. Michael Fehringer, ESAs Biomass Project Manager, said: 'As is routine, were still in the commissioning phase, fine-tuning the satellite to ensure it delivers the highest quality data for scientists to accurately determine how much carbon is stored in the worlds forests. 'Biomass is equipped with novel space technology, so weve been closely monitoring its performance in orbit, and were very pleased to report that everything is functioning smoothly and its first images are nothing short of spectacular and theyre only a mere glimpse of what is still to come.' The data being returned so far is not yet calibrated for use in carbon quantification or scientific analysis. However, the clarity and quality of the initial images confirm that the satellite and its complex systems are functioning as designed. ESAs Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, added: 'Looking at these first images, its clear to see that our Earth Explorer Biomass satellite is set to deliver on its promise. 'We fully expect that this new mission will provide a groundbreaking leap in our ability to understand Earth's forests combining cutting-edge radar technology with the scientific excellence that will unlock vital insights into carbon storage, climate change, and the health of our planets precious forest ecosystems.' As Biomass continues to settle into its orbital routine, scientists and policymakers alike are looking ahead to the transformative data it will provide, shaping global efforts to combat climate change and protect the Earths natural resources.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Nothing short of spectacular': ESA's Biomass satellite releases 1st views of Earth from orbit (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. VIENNA, AUSTRIA — An exclamation of awe, excitement and cheers erupted today at ESA's Living Planet Symposium as a striking new window into Earth's forests, deserts and glaciers opened with the release of the first images from ESA's Biomass satellite. Unveiled at the Living Planet Symposium 2025 in Vienna, the images mark a major milestone in our understanding of how Earth stores carbon — and how climate change is transforming ecosystems. Just two months after launch, ESA's Biomass mission is already delivering on its promise, offering a glimpse into the potential of its novel radar system. Although the mission is still in its commissioning phase, the early images are already showing the satellite's capabilities. "These first images are nothing short of spectacular — and they're only a mere glimpse of what is still to come," said Michael Fehringer, ESA's Biomass Project Manager, in a statement. "As is routine, we're still in the commissioning phase, fine-tuning the satellite to ensure it delivers the highest quality data for scientists to accurately determine how much carbon is stored in the world's forests." ESA leaders are already praising the efforts of the many scientists behind the program. "It was extremely emotional because it was the work of hundreds of people," Simonetta Cheli, Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, told in an interview. "It's very symbolic of the effort behind the scenes and the potential that this mission has." This first image captures a vibrant region of Bolivia where rainforest meets riverine floodplains. Bolivia has suffered significant deforestation, primarily due to agricultural expansion. In the image, different colors highlight distinct ecosystems: green for rainforest, red for forested wetlands and floodplains, and blue-purple for grasslands. The dark snaking line of the Beni River — free-flowing and undammed — cuts through the landscape. "It shows the beauty of our Earth and what we can do to protect it," said Cheli in a press conference following the Biomass image release at the Living Planet Symposium, Vienna. In this paired image, the same Bolivian landscape is shown as seen by Biomass and by Copernicus Sentinel-2. Though they may appear visually similar, only Biomass, with its penetrating P-band radar, captures the full vertical forest structure beneath the canopy. This makes it far more effective at measuring forest biomass and carbon content. While Sentinel-2 is limited to surface features, Biomass unlocks a 3D view of forests vital for accurate carbon accounting. This striking view over northern Brazil was the first image returned by Biomass. The satellite's radar reveals subtle terrain and vegetation differences across the Amazon rainforest. Red and pink tones indicate forested wetlands and floodplains, especially along rivers, while the green regions depict dense forest and more rugged topography in the north. The image hints at Biomass' potential to monitor forest health and structure across remote, ecologically critical areas of the Amazon Basin. This image features the mountainous Halmahera rainforest in Indonesia, revealing complex topography shaped by volcanic forces. Mount Gamkonora, still active, is visible near the northern coast. Despite dense vegetation, Biomass' radar can penetrate the canopy to expose the contours of volcanoes and the surrounding forest floor. It's a striking example of the satellite's power to map both biomass and terrain, crucial for understanding the landscape dynamics of tectonically and volcanically active regions. In this image, Biomass peers into the heart of Africa's Congo Basin, capturing Gabon's dense forests and the winding Ivindo River, an ecological lifeline. The river and its tributaries appear clearly against a rich green background representing unbroken rainforest. Here, Biomass reveals hidden structures beneath the sands of the Sahara in northern Chad, including parts of the Tibesti Mountains. Its P-band radar can penetrate up to five meters below the desert surface, exposing the shapes of ancient riverbeds and geologic formations long buried beneath arid terrain. This capability opens new frontiers in paleoclimate research and groundwater mapping, especially in extreme environments once considered too opaque for remote sensing. The final image showcases the frozen landscape of Antarctica, where the Nimrod Glacier flows into the Ross Ice Shelf alongside the Transantarctic Mountains. Biomass' radar can see into the ice, hinting at its ability to track internal ice structures and flow velocities. Unlike shorter-wavelength radar missions, Biomass may unlock key data about ice sheet dynamics and stability, critical for understanding future sea-level rise in a warming world. While these early results aren't yet calibrated for scientific analysis, they confirm that Biomass is on track to meet — and possibly exceed — its ambitious goals. With a mission designed to span five years, Biomass will provide consistent, global coverage of Earth's forested regions, contributing vital data for climate models, conservation efforts, and carbon accounting. As the satellite transitions into full operational mode, scientists are eagerly anticipating the datasets that could transform how we monitor — and protect — the living lungs of our planet.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
European Space Agency launched Biomass satellite to monitor forests and climatic studies
Source: ESA Earth's forests are pivotal to keeping our planet habitable. Freely referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," they blanket about one-third of the globe and have a significant function to play in modifying the weather. Forests also take in enormous quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air — approximately 7.6 billion metric tons each year, NASA says — and emit oxygen, which makes life on Earth viable. ESA launched Biomass satellite to study forest carbon estimation According to ESA, to meet this challenge Biomass satellite is deployed into orbit on 29 April 2025 Tuesday aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time). ESA's Biomass mission launches on Vega-C by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The mission represents a giant leap in monitoring forests and climate studies. Biomass is the first satellite to be equipped with a P-band synthetic aperture radar — a technology that can penetrate deep into forest canopies and show detailed, three-dimensional structures of the trees beneath. Imagine it as an Earth-sized MRI machine. By taking the density and structure of tree trunks, branches, and stems, Biomass will enable scientists to estimate the amount of carbon in forests as well as how much is emitted. Biomass separates from Vega-C Why forest monitoring is becoming increasingly urgent Though essential, forests are being increasingly threatened by human action. Deforestation, land degradation, and even increasing fires are diminishing their capacity to sequester CO₂. Hence, forests in most places — particularly tropical forests — are starting to emit more carbon than they lock away, fueling global warming. Tracking how forests react to increasing levels of greenhouse gases and environmental stressors is tricky. Thick forest cover and dense vegetation hinder the measurement of forest health on the ground or even using conventional satellite imagery. Biomass satellite measuring forest carbon to track climate change "With Biomass, we are set to harvest critical new information about the amount of carbon held in forests around the globe, which will help to close important knowledge gaps regarding the carbon cycle and, in the end, Earth's climate system," explained Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes. This data is critical. Standing forests have a tendency to retain more carbon than they release. But because of extensive deforestation and forest loss, most forests — especially those in the Amazon and Southeast Asia — have reversed from being carbon sinks to becoming carbon sources. "This new mission will enhance our capability to measure forest carbon stocks and fluxes, which is at the heart of understanding and estimating the effects of climate change," said Michael Fehringer, ESA's Biomass Project Manager. Biomass satellite to track forest carbon The satellite was produced with the involvement of 50 partner companies, including project lead Airbus UK. In the days ahead, mission controllers will check that the satellite's systems are working as they should. Once operational, Biomass will start generating 3D maps of forest biomass and carbon distribution, enabling scientists to better understand the changing role of forests in the global carbon cycle. As climate change speeds up and forest health declines, accurate, real-time data is more important than ever. Biomass will enable scientists, policymakers, and conservationists to know where and how to intervene — whether it's safeguarding carbon-dense forests or quantifying the actual effect of deforestation. The mission won't halt climate change by itself, but it might be an essential component in the worldwide effort to slow its impact. Also Read | Where does gold really come from? NASA data reveals the shocking truth
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests
Earth's forests play a critical role in keeping our planet habitable. Often called the "lungs of the Earth," forests cover nearly one-third of the planet and absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also produce oxygen so we can breathe. According to NASA, forests worldwide absorb about 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2 each year. MORE: How global warming could threaten satellites, according to new study But that's just an estimate because human industrial activities continue to put more Earth-warning greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Understanding how our forests respond to the increases in greenhouse gas emissions and threats to their existence, such as deforestation and wildfires, is challenging because of the dense vegetation and hard-to-penetrate canopies. That's about that change. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) put its Biomass satellite into orbit. Biomass is carrying the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space. You can think of it like an MRI machine designed to provide 3D maps of the planet's forests. The radar can penetrate deep into the vegetation and provide scientists with data about the state of our forests, how they are absorbing and emitting carbon and how human activities like deforestation and wildfires are changing their behaviors. "With Biomass, we are poised to gain vital new data on how much carbon is stored in the world's forests, helping to fill key gaps in our knowledge of the carbon cycle and, ultimately, Earth's climate system," Simonetta Cheli, ESA director of earth observation programmes, said in a statement. MORE: Satellite appears to show new highway cutting through Brazil's Amazon rainforest When left untouched, forests store more carbon than they emit. But because of human-driven land use changes, such as degradation and deforestation, especially in tropical areas, forests are releasing more and more carbon back into the atmosphere, making climate change worse. "This new mission will advance our ability to quantify forest carbon stocks and fluxes, which is key to understanding and assessing the impacts of climate change," ESA Biomass project manager Michael Fehringer said in a statement. The Biomass satellite will measure the trunks, branches and stems of the trees that populate the planet's forests. ESA says these measurements will serve as a proxy for determining carbon storage, which is the key goal of the mission. MORE: California coastal community shifts 4 inches closer to the ocean each week: NASA According to ESA, 50 companies, including project lead Airbus UK, contributed to developing the satellite. Mission controllers will spend the coming days verifying that the satellite is functioning correctly and that all its systems are working as intended. Once in operation, the mission will take five-and-a-half years to complete. New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests originally appeared on
30-04-2025
- Science
New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests
Earth's forests play a critical role in keeping our planet habitable. Often called the "lungs of the Earth," forests cover nearly one-third of the planet and absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also produce oxygen so we can breathe. According to NASA, forests worldwide absorb about 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2 each year. But that's just an estimate because human industrial activities continue to put more Earth-warning greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Understanding how our forests respond to the increases in greenhouse gas emissions and threats to their existence, such as deforestation and wildfires, is challenging because of the dense vegetation and hard-to-penetrate canopies. That's about that change. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) put its Biomass satellite into orbit. Biomass is carrying the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space. You can think of it like an MRI machine designed to provide 3D maps of the planet's forests. The radar can penetrate deep into the vegetation and provide scientists with data about the state of our forests, how they are absorbing and emitting carbon and how human activities like deforestation and wildfires are changing their behaviors. "With Biomass, we are poised to gain vital new data on how much carbon is stored in the world's forests, helping to fill key gaps in our knowledge of the carbon cycle and, ultimately, Earth's climate system," Simonetta Cheli, ESA director of earth observation programmes, said in a statement. When left untouched, forests store more carbon than they emit. But because of human-driven land use changes, such as degradation and deforestation, especially in tropical areas, forests are releasing more and more carbon back into the atmosphere, making climate change worse. "This new mission will advance our ability to quantify forest carbon stocks and fluxes, which is key to understanding and assessing the impacts of climate change," ESA Biomass project manager Michael Fehringer said in a statement. The Biomass satellite will measure the trunks, branches and stems of the trees that populate the planet's forests. ESA says these measurements will serve as a proxy for determining carbon storage, which is the key goal of the mission. According to ESA, 50 companies, including project lead Airbus UK, contributed to developing the satellite. Mission controllers will spend the coming days verifying that the satellite is functioning correctly and that all its systems are working as intended. Once in operation, the mission will take five-and-a-half years to complete.
