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NASA Creates First Global Forest Map Using Lasers

Posted by samzenpus on from the if-a-tree-is-measured-and-nobody-is-around-to-see-it dept.

MikeCapone writes "Scientists, using three NASA satellites, have created a first-of-its-kind map that details the height of the world's forests. The data was collected from NASA's ICESat, Terra and Aqua satellites. The latter two satellites are responsible for most of NASA's Gulf spill imagery. The data collected will help scientists understand how the world's forests both store and process carbon. While there are many local and regional canopy maps, this is the very first global map using a uniform method for measure."

1 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How's the height of the forest relevant... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Like what? Grasses in savannah/prairies/outback-bushland doesn't store/process carbon?

    Less than tall trees, obviously. While medium-height shrubs would contain somewhere in between.

    There are obvious deficiencies, like that they probably care about biomass density and you could have dense foliage under a shorter canopy. But it is a useful first-order indication. That's why they said the height map "helps get us there", not "is the end-all be-all, yippe we're done."

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