PREVIEW

A revolutionary new umbrella-like satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA) has just unveiled the first-ever aerial images of Earth’s forests, offering a glimpse into the future of climate monitoring.

The Biomass satellite, which has been dubbed the "Space Brolly" due to its unique umbrella-like shape, uses cutting-edge radar technology to peer through the thickest canopies and expose the hidden carbon-rich structures beneath.

Launched in April 2025, Biomass is already making waves in the scientific community with its ground-breaking P-band radar, capable of revealing details about forests, deserts, ice sheets, and more. The powerful technology allows the satellite to map not only the height and biomass of trees, but also the very carbon they store - data crucial for understanding how forests impact the global climate.

ESA's Biomass is still in the early stages of operation, but the first images have already been shared with the world. At the Living Planet Symposium in June 2025, ESA revealed stunning photographs of Bolivia’s deforested areas and the vast Amazon rainforest. The images, captured in vivid detail, show forests, wetlands, rivers, and grasslands in ways never before possible. The satellite’s radar can see through the dense jungle canopy, providing insights into the structure and biomass of the forest floor below.

What makes Biomass truly remarkable is its ability to map not just forests, but also remote regions like the Sahara Desert, Antarctica, and even active volcanoes in Indonesia. In the Sahara, for instance, the satellite’s radar can penetrate up to five meters of dry sand, uncovering ancient riverbeds and dried-up lakes beneath the surface.

The Biomass satellite’s ability to track the carbon stored in Earth’s forests is a game-changer for climate science. As global deforestation continues at alarming rates, understanding how much carbon is locked away in forests is vital for predicting and mitigating the effects of climate change. Biomass’s data could prove crucial in monitoring global emissions, providing valuable insights into forest health, and helping to shape future conservation efforts.

Currently orbiting Earth at an altitude of 666 kilometres, Biomass transmits raw radar data back to ESA’s ground station in Kiruna, Sweden, where it is processed and turned into detailed scientific maps. These maps, which include everything from forest height models to biomass density data, will be made available to scientists worldwide, who can access them through ESA’s cloud-based platform, MAAP.

As the satellite undergoes further calibration, Biomass’s potential to track climate change and its impact on global ecosystems grows exponentially. With the ability to scan vast areas of forest and other landscapes with remarkable accuracy, ESA’s Biomass satellite is poised to revolutionise the way we monitor and understand the Earth’s changing climate.

The cutting-edge technology will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change, providing scientists and policymakers with the data they need to protect our planet’s most vital ecosystems. With its ability to map carbon storage in forests and other remote areas, ESA’s Biomass satellite could be one of the most important tools in our battle against global warming.