ESA’s Biomass Satellite to Map Earth's Forest Carbon from Space

By Eshorjit : Infinitrix News Team | May 6, 2025

Paris, France — The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched its groundbreaking Biomass satellite, a mission designed to scan and measure the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail. Using long-wavelength radar technology, the satellite will track the amount of carbon stored in trees—data critical to fighting climate change and preventing deforestation.

What Makes Biomass Different

Equipped with a massive 12-meter deployable radar dish, Biomass is the first Earth observation satellite to operate in the P-band frequency, which can penetrate forest canopies and map woody biomass beneath. Unlike optical satellites that only see surface features, Biomass peers into dense forests to determine carbon storage levels over time.

“This is like giving scientists x-ray vision over the world’s forests,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General. “It will completely change how we track forest health and measure climate mitigation progress.”

The mission will run for at least five years and produce 3D maps of carbon stocks, tree heights, and biomass loss, particularly in tropical zones that have been difficult to monitor from space until now.

Why It Matters Now

Forests are one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks, absorbing up to 30% of human-produced carbon dioxide annually. However, precise global data on forest degradation has long been missing. ESA's Biomass aims to fill that gap—providing data useful for the UN, IPCC, conservation agencies, and national governments.

Early partners include the FAO, NASA, and several Indigenous-led forest monitoring coalitions in Africa and South America.

“The data will be open-access, empowering countries and communities to track deforestation and reforestation in near real time,” noted Dr. Helena Vogt, mission scientist at ESA.

Challenges and Expectations

Launching such a large radar dish into low Earth orbit required new engineering, including foldable antenna systems and shielding to prevent interference with military communications. The spacecraft will calibrate over European forests before extending its focus globally.

ESA hopes the Biomass mission will set a new standard in environmental transparency—supporting both international climate targets and local conservation efforts.