BIOMASS MISSION
- The Biomass mission marks the seventh Earth Explorer satellite launched by the European Space Agency (ESA). As part of the Earth Explorer initiative, these missions aim to enhance our understanding of various components of Earth's environmental systems.
- Scheduled for launch on April 29, Biomass will be carried by the Vega C rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, and will enter a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at approximately 666 km altitude. This orbit allows the satellite to pass over the same part of the Earth at the same local solar time, enhancing data consistency.
- Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle, acting as massive carbon sinks. They are estimated to absorb around 16 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually, with an existing carbon stock of 861 gigatonnes held in vegetation and soil.
- However, comprehensive data on above-ground forest biomass—the living mass above the soil—and forest height at a large scale is lacking. This gap hampers our ability to fully assess forest health and their impact on climate regulation. Addressing this deficiency is the main objective of the Biomass mission.
- Furthermore, the satellite will assist in tracking carbon fluctuations, particularly as deforestation and emissions continue to rise. According to the World Resources Institute, 3.7 million hectares of tropical forest were lost in 2023, equating to nearly ten soccer fields per minute. This deforestation was responsible for about 6% of global CO₂ emissions that year.
- Apart from forest data collection, the Biomass mission will also monitor Antarctic ice sheet dynamics and create digital elevation models of landscapes obscured by thick vegetation
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Biomass mission, scheduled to launch on April 29, 2025, is specifically designed to monitor the Earth's forests in unprecedented detail. It will achieve this through the use of a novel instrument called a P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Here's how this technology will enable the mission to monitor forests:
P-band SAR Technology:
- Long Wavelength: The Biomass mission will utilize a P-band SAR with a long wavelength of approximately 70 cm. This is a key feature because these longer radar waves can penetrate through the forest canopy, including leaves, branches, and even down to the ground in many forest types. Shorter wavelength SARs typically only capture information about the top of the canopy.
- Sensitivity to Woody Biomass: The P-band frequency is particularly sensitive to the woody parts of trees, such as trunks and large branches, which constitute the majority of a forest's biomass and carbon storage. This allows for more direct measurement of the amount of carbon stored in forests.
- All-Weather, Day-Night Operation: Like all SAR instruments, the P-band radar can operate effectively day and night and is not hindered by cloud cover, which is crucial for consistent monitoring, especially in tropical regions that are often cloudy
- The satellites launched through this initiative are designed to gather crucial data on various components of the Earth system, including the planet’s interior, frozen regions (cryosphere), water bodies (hydrosphere), atmosphere, ionosphere—which contains the atmosphere’s electrically charged particles—and the land surface.
- The programme’s first mission, known as the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), was launched in 2009 and remained operational until 2013.
- It significantly advanced scientific studies on ocean currents and the Earth’s internal structure.
- The latest satellite, named the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE), was launched in May 2024.
- This mission aims to enhance scientific understanding of Earth’s radiation balance, which plays a key role in climate regulation, among other objectives.
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For Prelims: Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), G-20 summit, E10 (10% ethanol) or E85 (85% ethanol), Electric vehicle (EV), and International Energy Agency (IEA). For Mains: 1. Discuss the role of biofuels in the global transition to sustainable energy sources, considering their environmental impact, economic implications, and potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (250 words). |
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Previous year Question 1. According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (UPSC 2020) 1. Cassava 2. Damaged wheat grains 3. Groundnut seeds 4. Horse gram 5. Rotten potatoes 6. Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1, 2, 5 and 6 only B. 1, 3, 4 and 6 only C. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Answer: A 2. It is possible to produce algae-based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry? (UPSC 2017) 1. Production of algae-based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents. 2. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuels production requires a high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed. 3. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large-scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns. Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B 3. With reference to the Neem tree, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2014) 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites. 2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents. 3. Neem oil has applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 only B. 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: C |
Source: Indianexpress
