Latest news with #RalphCordey
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists send enormous satellite into space to scan over a trillion organisms around the globe: 'We can actually look inside'
Scientists send enormous satellite into space to scan over a trillion organisms around the globe: 'We can actually look inside' The European Space Agency has deployed a one-of-a-kind satellite with the ability to scan more than a trillion complex organisms in the world's rainforests. The successful April launch was spotlighted in June in the Environmental Defense Fund's Vital Signs newsletter, a trusted source for inspiring climate news stories, solutions, and ways you can take action. The Biomass satellite, nicknamed Space Brolly because of its massive 12-meter diameter antenna, sparked optimism because scientists believe it will help them accurately measure how much carbon more than 1.5 trillion trees in rainforests are storing, per the BBC. One 2021 study detailed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests the Amazon rainforest (the largest rainforest in the world) contains around 123 billion tons of carbon above and below ground. Yet deforestation is threatening the Amazon and other crucial rainforests that help regulate the climate and keep temperatures in check. The 1.3-ton satellite works similar to a CT scan, able to provide scientists with deeper insight into the health of rainforests. This could help them develop solutions to more effectively mitigate the life-threatening effects of the warming climate, including food insecurity and more intense extreme weather. "We really want to interrogate these forests. We can actually look inside," professor John Remedios, director of the National Centre for Earth Observation, told the BBC after the satellite's launch from Kourou, French Guiana, on April 29. This project is just one of the initiatives spotlighted by Vital Signs that underscores how environmentally focused technologies can be lucrative long-term investments, as governments, companies, and individuals come together to work toward a brighter future. Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus, told the BBC that the satellite was 20 years in the making, with its ability to penetrate clouds to gather data potentially revolutionizing how we protect rainforests and the biodiverse creatures that call them home. "It's exciting, because it's going to tell us about how something that we perhaps take for granted," he said. "Our forests, our trees, how they are contributing to the processes which govern our planet, and in particular, the processes behind climate change which are so important to us today and for the future." Do you think we should be trying to pull pollution out of the atmosphere? Absolutely I need to know more In some situations No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Satellite to 'weigh' Earth's forests successfully launched
A first-of-its-kind satellite that will be able to see through clouds and leafy canopies to assess how the world's rainforests are protecting the planet from climate change, has successfully launched. The Biomass satellite, from the European Space Agency, will "weigh" the Earth's forests, revealing how much planet-warming carbon is being stored within trees and therefore kept out of the atmosphere. Until now the amount of carbon stored by the 1.5 trillion trees in the planet's rainforests has been impossible to calculate. Led by European aerospace group Airbus, the project hopes to help scientists more accurately model climate change and track rates of deforestation. World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030 Deforestation surges in 2022 despite pledges The satellite launched from ESA's Kourou station in French Guiana and you can watch live coverage here on the BBC iplayer. It has been affectionately named "space brolly" for its giant 12m diameter antenna which expands outwards. The antenna will use radar with a very long wavelength - allowing it to see deeper inside forests and reveal branches and trunks obscured by the canopy. "Most radars that we have in space today take wonderful images of icebergs, but when they look at forests they see the tops of the forest, the little twigs, the little leaves, they don't penetrate down into the forests," explained Dr Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus. "But what we found was that by using a much longer radar wavelength, we could see down into the depths of trees and forests," he said. The 1.2-tonne satellite will use an approach not dissimilar to that used in a CT scan, and analyse slices through the trees on repeat passes to build up a picture of how much woody material is present. It is this material that can be used as a proxy for the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide stored. Currently scientists have been measuring individual trees and trying to extrapolate, but this presents a "huge challenge" said Prof Mat Disney, professor of remote sensing, at University College London. "Our current understanding is really patchy, because it's really, really difficult to measure," he said. "Essentially, what we're talking about is trying to weigh the amount of carbon that's stored in one and a half trillion trees across the tropics. "Satellites are really the only way you can do that consistently." On the ground measurements will continue to take place after the satellite is launched to verify the data it is sending back. Despite years of testing, the launch was challenging. "Certain things on the satellite are big, that includes its big 12-metre, deployable antenna. It's a bit like deploying an umbrella in space, only a very big one, so we will be looking for that to happen smoothly," said Dr Cordey. Airbus brought in engineers from the American company L3Harris Technologies to their site in Stevenage to oversee the construction of the antenna-reflector. L3Harris are specialists in these large, unfurlable systems - expertise which is not currently possessed in Europe. The team is hoping to produce the first maps within six months, and will then continue to gather data for the next five years. These annual maps will not only show how much carbon is stored but how much is being lost through deforestation. "The kind of observations that we've had for 50 years from [other] satellites like Landsat are affected very heavily by clouds. And in tropical regions, we have clouds a lot of the time, so you may not see a chunk of tropical forest," said Prof Disney. Another advantage of the longer wavelength of the Biomass satellite is that it can penetrate clouds giving a consistent, comparable view of a forest from one year to the next. It is this outcome which has motivated the scientists who have worked on the project for more than 20 years. "It's exciting, because it's going to tell us about how something that we perhaps take for granted," said Dr Cordey. "Our forests, our trees, how they are contributing to the processes which govern our planet, and in particular, the processes behind climate change which are so important to us today and for the future." A simple guide to climate change Four ways climate change worsens extreme weather What you can do to reduce carbon emissions Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
Express Tribune
29-04-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
New Satellite set to weigh the world's forests with unprecedented precision
Listen to article A new satellite set to launch on Tuesday will allow scientists to measure the carbon stored in the world's forests with unprecedented accuracy, marking a breakthrough in the global effort to monitor and tackle climate change. The European Space Agency's Biomass satellite, the first of its kind, is designed to peer through clouds and dense forest canopies to "weigh" trees across the planet. It will help determine how much planet-warming carbon is locked in trunks and branches—information that has long remained elusive. Scheduled to lift off from ESA's Kourou base in French Guiana at 10:15 BST, the 1.2-tonne satellite is equipped with a 12-metre radar antenna, earning it the nickname 'space brolly'. Although recent studies highlight the significant amount of carbon stored by the planet's 1.5 trillion trees in rainforests. Developed by European aerospace firm Airbus, the radar uses an unusually long wavelength to penetrate layers of forest that traditional satellites cannot see. 'Most radars only capture the forest canopy, the small twigs and leaves,' said Dr Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus. 'But with a longer radar wavelength, we can look deeper into the forest and observe branches and trunks.' The satellite will conduct multiple passes over rainforests and use a CT scan-like method to analyse 'slices' of forest, creating a layered view of the woody biomass. This material acts as a key proxy for estimating how much carbon dioxide is being stored and kept out of the atmosphere. Previously, researchers have attempted to measure carbon by analysing individual trees and extrapolating the data across entire ecosystems—a process Professor Mat Disney of University College London called 'a huge challenge.' 'Our current understanding is really patchy,' Disney said. 'You're trying to weigh carbon stored in one and a half trillion trees. Satellites are really the only way to do that consistently.' Verification efforts on the ground will continue to ensure the satellite's measurements match real-world data. Scientists say the information could be critical in modelling climate projections and tracking deforestation trends. After two decades of preparation, the European Space Agency's Biomass satellite is ready to launch—but the mission isn't without its challenges. The satellite features a giant 12-metre deployable radar antenna that will unfurl like a massive umbrella in orbit. That mechanism must function flawlessly. 'There are some major components, including the large antenna, which must deploy smoothly in space,' said Dr Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus. To build the complex reflector, Airbus enlisted engineers from L3Harris Technologies, a US firm with expertise in large foldable satellite systems. This know-how isn't yet available within Europe. If deployment is successful, the mission is expected to deliver its first forest carbon maps within six months. The satellite will then operate for five years, collecting global data. The Biomass mission aims to provide the first accurate measurements of how much carbon is held in trees—and how much is lost through deforestation. Unlike other satellites, Biomass uses a longer radar wavelength, allowing it to see through cloud cover and dense forest canopies. 'Conventional systems, like Landsat, struggle in tropical regions due to near-constant cloud cover,' said Professor Mat Disney, a remote sensing expert at University College London. 'This technology will finally give us a consistent view of forests over time,' he added. Researchers say this capability is critical for understanding the carbon cycle and the role of forests in mitigating climate change. 'It's fascinating because it helps us understand a vital, often overlooked part of the Earth system,' said Dr Cordey. 'Our forests play a huge role in how the planet works—and that has never been more important to study than now.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New satellite will see through clouds to 'weigh' Earth's forests
A first-of-its-kind satellite due to launch on Tuesday will be able to see through clouds and leafy canopies to assess how they are protecting the planet from climate change. The Biomass satellite, from the European Space Agency, will "weigh" the Earth's forests, revealing how much planet-warming carbon is being stored within trees and therefore kept out of the atmosphere. Until now the amount of carbon stored by the 1.5 trillion trees in the planet's rainforests has been impossible to calculate. Led by British company Airbus, the project hopes to help scientists more accurately model climate change and track rates of deforestation. World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030 Deforestation surges in 2022 despite pledges The satellite is due to be launched at 10:15 BST from ESA's Kourou station in French Guiana. It has been affectionately named "space brolly" for its giant 12m diameter antenna which expands outwards. The antenna will use radar with a very long wavelength - allowing it to see deeper inside forests and reveal branches and trunks obscured by the canopy. "Most radars that we have in space today take wonderful images of icebergs, but when they look at forests they see the tops of the forest, the little twigs, the little leaves, they don't penetrate down into the forests," explained Dr Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus. "But what we found was that by using a much longer radar wavelength, we could see down into the depths of trees and forests," he said. The 1.2-tonne satellite will use an approach not dissimilar to that used in a CT scan, and analyse slices through the trees on repeat passes to build up a picture of how much woody material is present. It is this material that can be used as a proxy for the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide stored. Currently scientists have been measuring individual trees and trying to extrapolate, but this presents a "huge challenge" said Prof Mat Disney, professor of remote sensing, at University College London. "Our current understanding is really patchy, because it's really, really difficult to measure," he said. "Essentially, what we're talking about is trying to weigh the amount of carbon that's stored in one and a half trillion trees across the tropics. "Satellites are really the only way you can do that consistently." On the ground measurements will continue to take place after the satellite is launched to verify the data it is sending back. Despite years of testing, the launch will not be straightforward. "Certain things on the satellite are big, that includes its big 12-metre, deployable antenna. It's a bit like deploying an umbrella in space, only a very big one, so we will be looking for that to happen smoothly," said Dr Cordey. Airbus brought in engineers from the American company L3Harris Technologies to their site in Stevenage to oversee the construction of the antenna-reflector. L3Harris are specialists in these large, unfurlable systems - expertise which is not currently possessed in Europe. If the launch is successful, the team is hoping to produce the first maps within six months, and will then continue to gather data for the next five years. These annual maps will not only show how much carbon is stored but how much is being lost through deforestation. "The kind of observations that we've had for 50 years from [other] satellites like Landsat are affected very heavily by clouds. And in tropical regions, we have clouds a lot of the time, so you may not see a chunk of tropical forest," said Prof Disney. Another advantage of the longer wavelength of the Biomass satellite is that it can penetrate clouds giving a consistent, comparable view of a forest from one year to the next. It is this outcome which has motivated the scientists who have worked on the project for more than 20 years. "It's exciting, because it's going to tell us about how something that we perhaps take for granted," said Dr Cordey. "Our forests, our trees, how they are contributing to the processes which govern our planet, and in particular, the processes behind climate change which are so important to us today and for the future." A simple guide to climate change Four ways climate change worsens extreme weather What you can do to reduce carbon emissions Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
New satellite will see through clouds to 'weigh' Earth's forests
A first-of-its-kind satellite due to launch on Tuesday will be able to see through clouds and leafy canopies to assess how they are protecting the planet from climate Biomass satellite, from the European Space Agency, will "weigh" the Earth's forests, revealing how much planet-warming carbon is being stored within trees and therefore kept out of the now the amount of carbon stored by the 1.5 trillion trees in the planet's rainforests has been impossible to by British company Airbus, the project hopes to help scientists more accurately model climate change and track rates of deforestation. The satellite is due to be launched at 10:15 BST from ESA's Kourou station in French Guiana. It has been affectionately named "space brolly" for its giant 12m diameter antenna which expands antenna will use radar with a very long wavelength - allowing it to see deeper inside forests and reveal branches and trunks obscured by the canopy."Most radars that we have in space today take wonderful images of icebergs, but when they look at forests they see the tops of the forest, the little twigs, the little leaves, they don't penetrate down into the forests," explained Dr Ralph Cordey, head of geosciences at Airbus."But what we found was that by using a much longer radar wavelength, we could see down into the depths of trees and forests," he 1.2-tonne satellite will use an approach not dissimilar to that used in a CT scan, and analyse slices through the trees on repeat passes to build up a picture of how much woody material is is this material that can be used as a proxy for the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide scientists have been measuring individual trees and trying to extrapolate, but this presents a "huge challenge" said Prof Mat Disney, professor of remote sensing, at University College London."Our current understanding is really patchy, because it's really, really difficult to measure," he said. "Essentially, what we're talking about is trying to weigh the amount of carbon that's stored in one and a half trillion trees across the tropics. "Satellites are really the only way you can do that consistently." On the ground measurements will continue to take place after the satellite is launched to verify the data it is sending back. Despite years of testing, the launch will not be straightforward. "Certain things on the satellite are big, that includes its big 12-metre, deployable antenna. It's a bit like deploying an umbrella in space, only a very big one, so we will be looking for that to happen smoothly," said Dr brought in engineers from the American company L3Harris Technologies to their site in Stevenage to oversee the construction of the antenna-reflector.L3Harris are specialists in these large, unfurlable systems - expertise which is not currently possessed in Europe. If the launch is successful, the team is hoping to produce the first maps within six months, and will then continue to gather data for the next five annual maps will not only show how much carbon is stored but how much is being lost through deforestation."The kind of observations that we've had for 50 years from [other] satellites like Landsat are affected very heavily by clouds. And in tropical regions, we have clouds a lot of the time, so you may not see a chunk of tropical forest," said Prof Disney. Another advantage of the longer wavelength of the Biomass satellite is that it can penetrate clouds giving a consistent, comparable view of a forest from one year to the is this outcome which has motivated the scientists who have worked on the project for more than 20 years."It's exciting, because it's going to tell us about how something that we perhaps take for granted," said Dr Cordey. "Our forests, our trees, how they are contributing to the processes which govern our planet, and in particular, the processes behind climate change which are so important to us today and for the future." Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
