A major breakthrough in climate science has just taken flight. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched a unique satellite equipped with a powerful radar system that can “see” deep into rainforest canopies. Nicknamed the “space brolly” for its 12-metre umbrella-like antenna, the satellite aims to precisely measure the carbon stored in the world’s forests—a task previously deemed near-impossible.
Rainforests, often called the “lungs of the Earth”, store billions of tonnes of carbon and play a vital role in slowing climate change. But with an estimated 1.5 trillion trees worldwide, accurately quantifying stored carbon has been extremely difficult—until now.
Flying from French Guiana, the satellite will scan dense forests like the Amazon, Congo, and Indonesia. Its P-band radar—with a longer wavelength than conventional space radars—can penetrate thick foliage and detect trunks and branches hidden under the leafy canopy. This deeper view allows scientists to estimate woody biomass, a key indicator of how much CO₂ is locked in.
The method resembles a CT scan, slicing through forests on each orbit to build a detailed 3D map over time. Unlike past satellites hindered by cloud cover, this radar can see through clouds, offering consistent monitoring year after year.
Built in the UK with help from US firm L3Harris Technologies, the 1.2-tonne satellite is a collaborative global effort two decades in the making. The first carbon maps are expected within six months and will track both storage and deforestation impacts for the next five years.
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