A laser-based instrument for mapping the 3D structure of Earth’s forests has passed a major milestone toward deployment on the International Space Station in 2018. The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), led by College Park from the University of Maryland, successfully transitioned to “Phase B,” moving from requirements development and mission definition to preliminary design.
GEDI will provide the first comprehensive, high-resolution measurements of the vertical canopy structure of Earth’s temperate and tropical forests. This data will enable scientists to better address key questions about Earth’s carbon cycle and biodiversity.
“The largest uncertainties in the global carbon cycle concern the net impact of forest disturbance and subsequent regrowth on the amount of carbon stored in forest biomass and its impact on atmospheric CO2,” said Ralph Dubayah, GEDI’s principal investigator. “With data from GEDI, we will advance our ability to model the role of forests in the carbon cycle and to evaluate the impact of potential policy actions to mitigate CO2 emissions, such as planting trees or reducing deforestation.”
Click here for source (NASA)
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech
