Beneath The Canopy

Pioneering satellite reveals rainforests' hidden worlds and is starting to measure how much carbon they absorb and lock up. Scientists are now able to create detailed 3D maps of the world’s remotest, densest and darkest tropical forests - from outer space.

The world’s rainforests are vital for our survival. They cover just 6 percent of the world’s land, yet host half of the planet’s species and store billions of tonnes of planet-warming gases, helping to mitigate climate change. But rainforests are dense and sprawling. Scientists have struggled to understand what lies beneath the treetops because even the most powerful satellites cannot penetrate their thick canopies - until now.

Credit: ESA

The vivid colours in these first breathtaking images from the Biomass satellite reveal what lies below the treetops, from wetlands previously hidden beneath the foliage to concealed deforestation.

Twenty years in the making, the European Space Agency’s Biomass is the first satellite of its kind to use a specific radar frequency to “see” through clouds as well as dense foliage. Scientists can now measure the amount of woody material in the trunks - where most carbon is stored - and better grasp the role these ecosystems play in fighting climate change.

These images are only possible because of the unique radar technology aboard Biomass. The satellite was launched on 29 April from French Guiana and has spent the last two months beginning to collect data over the tropics.

The ultimate goal, over the coming years, is to produce a global 3D map of the world’s forests, enabling scientists to accurately estimate how much carbon they store.

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