Latest news with #MichaelFehringer
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.
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
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Space probe to assess health of forests from Earth's orbit
STORY: :: ESA/ This space probe will soon be sent into orbit to help scientists uncover the health of our world's densest rainforests. :: ESA/ATG Media Lab Attached to the European Space Agency's Biomass space probe is a new radar scanner that will map the carbon content of tropical forests - showing how deforestation and climate change are impacting what some refer to as the Earth's "green lungs." FEHRINGER : 'The forests are under threat. We need this data.' :: ESA/ATG Media Lab The probe is due to launch into space on April 29 and will orbit the Earth for several years. It will use interferometry technology to collect data on rainforests across Africa, Asia and South America. :: Kourou, French Guiana Biomass Project Manager at the European Space Agency Michael Fehringer explains. :: Michael Fehringer, Biomass Project Manager, European Space Agency 'What we want to measure is how much of the fossil fuel that is burned and produces CO2, how much of that goes into the forests and stays there and is captured. And we do several maps over the years in order to see the changes. That is the main goal." :: ESA - European Space Agency The probe's instruments are designed to measure carbon levels accurately, even through dense forest canopies. "You need to get the volume basically of the trees and with what we do, we have a radar instrument that can penetrate to the ground. We use a technology that is called interferometry, where we can also detect the height of the trees. And all that together helps us to estimate the volume and the weight, basically, of the roots in the forests." Forests draw in around 9 billion U.S. tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. But ongoing deforestation and degradation, especially in tropical regions, means this stored carbon is being released back into the atmosphere. Fehringer says the data Biomass collects is crucial to understanding the full impact of these changes on our forests. "It's basically daily in the news, the threat of climate change to human mankind. So it will provide data to combat, to provide information for politicians to make decisions, so it's absolutely timely to do it now."
