• ESA's Biomass satellite successfully deployed its 12-meter antenna, enabling it to measure forest biomass with unprecedented accuracy using P-band radar.
• A new dataset combining data from multiple satellites provides the most detailed view to date of global forest carbon storage and changes between 2007 and 2022.
• The Biomass mission and the new carbon dataset will significantly enhance the understanding of the carbon cycle and the impact of deforestation, supporting climate action and policy.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is making significant strides in monitoring Earth's forests and understanding their role in the carbon cycle. The Biomass mission, equipped with a novel P-band synthetic aperture radar, reached a crucial milestone with the successful deployment of its 12-meter antenna. This satellite aims to penetrate forest canopies and accurately measure forest biomass. Complementing this mission is a new comprehensive forest carbon dataset, built from nearly two decades of satellite data, providing detailed insights into global carbon storage trends. These efforts are crucial for climate modeling, forest management, and greenhouse gas reporting under the Paris Agreement.

• What: The ESA's Biomass satellite successfully deployed its 12-meter antenna and a new forest biomass dataset was released, providing detailed information on global forest carbon storage.
• Who: The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus, L3H, Aberystwyth University, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, Copernicus Sentinel-1, Envisat, ALOS PALSAR, ICESat, GEDI, MCSE, Mat Disney, Frank Martin Seifert, Richard Lucas, Maurizio Santoro.
• When: Antenna deployment occurred a week after the satellite's launch on April 29, 2025. The forest biomass dataset covers the period between 2007 and 2022 and was released in May 2025.
• Where: The Biomass satellite will observe forests globally, with a focus on the Amazon, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia. Ground stations in Inuvik (Canada), Svalbard (Norway), and Kiruna (Sweden) were involved in the antenna deployment.

The successful antenna deployment of the Biomass satellite marks a significant step forward in Earth observation technology. The satellite's P-band radar is designed to overcome limitations of previous space-based radars, enabling more accurate measurements of forest biomass, particularly in dense tropical forests. This data is crucial for improving climate models and understanding the carbon cycle. The concurrent release of the updated forest biomass dataset, built from multiple satellite missions, complements the Biomass mission by providing a historical context for forest carbon storage trends. Together, these initiatives enhance the ability to monitor deforestation, assess carbon sequestration, and inform climate policies.

The new release, version 6, is a pivotal moment for climate science as it provides an unprecedented level of consistency and timeliness in the provision of above-ground biomass estimates globally. This empowers researchers and policymakers alike to track carbon dynamics with the temporal precision necessary for meaningful climate action.

Essentially, what we’re talking about is trying to weigh the amount of carbon that’s stored in one and a half trillion trees across the tropics.

I’m delighted to see Biomass successfully deploy its remarkable antenna – a major milestone for one of our most pioneering Earth Explorer missions.

The ESA's Biomass mission, highlighted by the successful deployment of its innovative antenna, promises to revolutionize forest biomass measurement and carbon cycle understanding. The newly released forest carbon dataset, incorporating nearly two decades of satellite data, complements this mission by providing a comprehensive historical perspective. These advancements are crucial for informing climate action, supporting forest management, and improving the accuracy of climate models. While challenges remain in measuring extremely dense forests, the ongoing efforts and future data from the Biomass satellite hold great promise for reducing uncertainties in the global carbon cycle and mitigating the impacts of climate change.