As the COP30 takes place in Brazil, the world’s gaze turns to the Amazon, and to how ESA’s newly-launched BIOMASS satellite can help. This mission, equipped with the first ever P-band synthetic aperture radar capable of penetrating dense forest canopy to measure trunks, branches and stems, opens up a new chapter in assessing carbon storage. …
The BIOMASS mission represents a significant technological and scientific breakthrough. Carrying a novel P-band synthetic aperture radar, the Biomass mission is designed to deliver crucial information about the state of our forests and how they are changing, and to further our knowledge of the role forests play in the carbon cycle. In addition, as a …
Over the past 40 years, ESA has developed strong cooperation with several countries in Latin America, particularly Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. The first partnership dates back to 1977, with the signing of an agreement between the Brazilian Government and ESA for the establishment and use of tracking and telemetry facilities in Brazil. This agreement …
From September 30 to October 2, 2025, ESA, INPE, and AEB will jointly host an event at the Amazon Space Coordination facilities in Belém, Pará, Brazil, focused on data and applications, with a focus on the Biomass sensor and its prospects. The event will feature presentations, as well as technical and applied courses for professionals …
The goal of this project is to further develop and validate a high frequency SAR interferometric phase center (DSM) approach together with existing and forthcoming DTMs to map forest biomass (AGBD). To that end, the study will: 1) develop a novel method for annual AGBD mapping with individual TanDEM-X DSMs and Sentinel-1 time series for …
The project aims to maximise the use of Earth observation data to understand the impact of the Arctic freshwater export and Greenland ice discharge on modulating the water column structure and phytoplankton dynamics on the East Greenland Shelf. This will include a dedicated effort in mapping and quantifying three important components of the Arctic marine …
Development of a novel methodology capable of mapping the Belowground Biomass Density (BGBD), Litter Biomass Density (LBD), and Shrub Biomass Density (SBD) combining Earth Observation (EO) data from the Sentinel and ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 missions. Large-scale mapping of these biomass pools is still not done, unlike the Aboveground Biomass Density (AGBD), since it usually relies in Airborne …
Aim This project aims to provide a comprehensive, long-term analysis of fuel characteristics to understand the role of vegetation in controlling the changing trends of fire activity on the planet. To achieve this goal, Fuelity will leverage the extensive information available from ESA-funded missions that have improved biomass estimations. It will also complement several other …
Living Planet Fellowship research project carried out by Samuel Favrichon. Vegetation is a central component of the Earth’s system, governing surface water exchanges and constituting one of the largest terrestrial carbon reservoirs. Ongoing disturbances, whether natural or human-induced, combined with the impacts of changing climate, induce rapid alterations on a global scale. Accurate and consistent assessments of …
Living Planet Fellowship research project carried out by Paul Vermunt. During drought, water deficit depletes tree water content, which can lead to water stress mortality, vulnerability to wildfires and increased susceptibility to insect and pathogen attacks. Widespread tree mortality could be triggered by increased drought frequency, such as expected in Europe, which can lead to disrupting the …
