The European Space Agency (ESA) is about to launch its pioneering Biomass satellite.
The mission, which takes place on on 29 April 2025, will deliver detailed, three-dimensional maps of the planet’s densest and most inaccessible tropical forests – data that has long eluded scientists.
Biomass is the first satellite ever to carry a P-band synthetic aperture radar, an instrument capable of penetrating deep through the forest canopy to measure the woody trunks, branches and stems where most carbon is stored. Unlike previous satellite radars, which are limited to imaging leaves and upper branches, the P-band radar’s longer wavelength allows it to see through to the heart of the forest structure. This technology will provide hectare-scale resolution 3D maps, revealing both the height and mass of trees in regions that are otherwise impossible to survey from the ground.
The Biomass mission is divided into two phases. The initial phase will focus on generating detailed 3D maps of forests worldwide, providing a baseline for global forest mass, a measurement not achievable by ground-based methods. In the second phase, the satellite will produce five global maps, enabling the estimation of forest height and above-ground biomass at unprecedented accuracy. These datasets are crucial for understanding the carbon cycle.
The development of Biomass has been led by Airbus in Stevenage, UK, with contributions from more than 50 companies across 20 countries. Biomass represents a leap forward in remote sensing capability. Its P-band radar will deliver data that is not only more comprehensive but also more accurate than any previous mission, enabling direct measurement of above-ground biomass and forest height at global scale, improved digital elevation models in densely forested areas and systematic monitoring of forest change, degradation and regrowth.