Satellite Launches On Mission To 'Weigh' World's 1.5 Trillion Trees (cbsnews.com) 11
The European Space Agency has launched the Biomass satellite to study the world's forests using the first space-based P-band synthetic aperture radar, aiming to accurately measure carbon storage and improve understanding of the global carbon cycle. CBS News reports: Forests on Earth collectively absorb and store about 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, the ESA said. That regulates the planet's temperature. Deforestation and degradation, especially in tropical regions, means that stored carbon is being released back into the atmosphere, the ESA said, which can contribute to climate change. There's a lack of accurate data on how much carbon the planet's estimated 1.5 trillion trees store and how much human activity can impact that storage, the ESA said.
To "weigh" the planet's trees and determine their carbon dioxide capacity, Biomass will use a P-band synthetic aperture radar. It's the first such piece of technology in space. The radar can penetrate forest canopies and measure woody biomass, including trunks, branches and stems, the ESA said. Most forest carbon is stored in these parts of the trees. Those measurements will act as a proxy for carbon storage, the ESA said. [...] Once the radar takes the measurements, the data will be received by the large mesh reflector. It will then be sent to the ESA's mission control center.
To "weigh" the planet's trees and determine their carbon dioxide capacity, Biomass will use a P-band synthetic aperture radar. It's the first such piece of technology in space. The radar can penetrate forest canopies and measure woody biomass, including trunks, branches and stems, the ESA said. Most forest carbon is stored in these parts of the trees. Those measurements will act as a proxy for carbon storage, the ESA said. [...] Once the radar takes the measurements, the data will be received by the large mesh reflector. It will then be sent to the ESA's mission control center.
Units (Score:2)
Results in Libraries of Congress, please.
Re: (Score:2)
Results in Libraries of Congress, please.
Since this will be a completely useless "weight" when they're done, I would prefer it to be in something a bit more obscure. How about number of sperm whale pods?
Re: (Score:2)
From TFA:
Forests on Earth collectively absorb and store about 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, the ESA said. That regulates the planet's temperature. Deforestation and degradation, especially in tropical regions, means that stored carbon is being released back into the atmosphere, the ESA said, which can contribute to climate change. There's a lack of accurate data on how much carbon the planet's estimated 1.5 trillion trees store and how much human activity can impact that storage, the ESA said.
Like I said, I was never going to use it after col (Score:2)
Gee, I'm a tree!
SAR is pretty cool (Score:4, Interesting)
SAR is worth reading up on - very clever use of technology and math.
I am concerned that ESA will be in conflict with the political leadership when it turns out that biomass is increasing with the current climate cycle.
We have 20% more biomass now than forty years ago. Nobody is talking about this, yet if 20% of all biomass had disappeared it would be a five-alarm fire in the press.
It's especially heartening that the deserts are shrinking. This is tremendously valuable to the poorest countries and it's because edge-dwelling plants can keep their stoma a bit more closed, making them more drought resistant while engaging in the same amount of respiration.
More data is always welcome - hopefully it gets published.
Re: (Score:3)
Well, the Amazon is being rapidly cleared and burned and that more than compensates for the small increase in the Northern hemisphere.
Taking bets on the conclusions (Score:1)
Who wants to bet on the conclusions:
1) There are not enough trees despite the lack of a baseline
2) First world countries are to blame for the state of the biomass
3) Third world countries are being forced to cut down their trees so first world countries have to subsidize their governments.
4) China and California are not to blame for anything.
Re: (Score:3)
Sounds about right.
Reality is always a shock.
1) There are not enough trees despite the lack of a baseline
Baseline is Earth before men started clearing and burning everything. We have lost about a third of forest biomass.
2) First world countries are to blame for the state of the biomass
Yes. Demand for lumber and agricultural products (primarily meat) continue to lead to widespread forest destruction.
3) Third world countries are being forced to cut down their trees so first world countries have to subsidize t
P Band (Score:3)
P Band is UHF. I've been a ham for 40 years, and I had to look this one up. Apparently the IEEE doesn't use the designation anymore.
It also means this satellite probably has some comparatively big antennas.
One snapshot (Score:3)
That tells you how much carbon trees are storing today. Nothing about the carbon storage over the life cycle of the average tree, or forest. We have a few remaining old growth forests which date back to the last ice age. They represent about 20 generations of an average tree. But when I go there and dig a hole with a hand shovel, it doesn't take me long to reach the underlying layer of glacial till. Not really any longer than in my back yard, which has been regraded numerous times in recent (tree lifetime) history. So, where is 20 thousand years of carbon hiding?
I'll give you a hint. In a normal, undisturbed environment (old growth), trees grow and absorb carbon. Then they die, fall down and rot, releasing that carbon back into the environment. Principally as CO2. If 20 generations of trees would continue to accumulate carbon from past generations, there would be no space left between them by now. Since this is not the case, the carbon must be elsewhere.