BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Following over a decade of development, the European Space Agency (ESA) is on the verge of launching a groundbreaking satellite designed to revolutionize the way scientists observe forests and measure carbon. Set for liftoff on April 29 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, the Biomass satellite will orbit Earth for five years, collecting detailed radar images of tropical forests around the globe.

The satellite was recently shipped to its launch site aboard a 230-ton Vega-C rocket. Once in orbit, it will begin a mission that represents a milestone for Earth observation and climate science.

“This mission has been years in the making,” says Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s director of Earth observation programs. “Now, we are ready to gather the data we need to understand how much carbon the world’s forests are storing—and how that’s changing.”

Weighing forests to track carbon from space

The Biomass mission will provide something scientists have never had before: the ability to weigh forests from space. Using advanced radar technology, the satellite will measure the height of trees and the amount of above-ground biomass—the trunks, branches, and woody parts that hold vast stores of carbon.

“What the mission will do, effectively, is weigh the forests it studies,” says physicist Shaun Quegan, the lead scientist behind the mission. “We know half that weight must be made up of carbon. So, we are going to be able to weigh the carbon content of the world’s tropical forests from space and, crucially, work out how much these are changing over time.”

Forests are essential carbon sinks, absorbing roughly 25 percent of human-caused carbon emissions each year. However, their ability to store carbon is weakening due to deforestation, degradation, and climate stress. A 2020 study led by the University of Leeds found that tropical rainforests took up one-third less carbon in the 2010s compared to the 1990s.

Understanding how these ecosystems are shifting is crucial for climate policy. “We will then know the balance of carbon that is flowing to and from the atmosphere,” Quegan says. “That is enormously important.”

A new view beneath the canopy

Tropical rainforests are notoriously difficult to study. Thick canopies block sunlight, let alone visual access from above. But Biomass is equipped with a powerful new tool: the P-band synthetic aperture radar. This is the first time such an instrument has been deployed in space.

The radar can penetrate through dense foliage, offering an unprecedented look at the structure of forests from canopy to ground. It will produce 3D images of entire forest ecosystems, helping researchers study both their size and composition.

“By pushing the boundaries of remote sensing, Biomass not only advances our understanding of global forests and carbon cycles but also demonstrates the transformative potential of space-based innovation in tackling Earth’s most pressing environmental challenges,” Cheli explains.

This capability could revolutionize how scientists assess forest health, track illegal logging, and map deforestation with a level of detail previously thought impossible.

Innovation that extends beyond forests

While its primary focus is tropical forests, the satellite’s potential applications extend far beyond. ESA officials note that Biomass could also be used to model the structure and motion of ice sheets or scan underground in dry regions. In short, it’s a platform that expands the possibilities for earth science.

As data from Biomass is collected, scientists plan to integrate it with artificial intelligence to develop better models of the carbon cycle and make more accurate climate forecasts.

“That will tell us what is likely to happen in the future,” says Quegan. “It will tell us what we are up against.”

Data to inform the future of climate action

The ability to track how much carbon is stored—and lost—in the world’s forests could play a major role in shaping future climate action. Reliable, up-to-date information will help policymakers design more effective forest protection and restoration strategies.

“It’s marvelous to see the satellite standing proud today,” says Cheli. “Once Biomass is in orbit, it will collect and deliver much-needed data to advance Earth science and our understanding of the carbon cycle.”

With the launch just days away, anticipation is high. The Biomass mission promises not only to fill a critical data gap in global climate monitoring, but also to inspire new possibilities for how we observe—and care for—our planet from above.