S5E01 Down to Earth: Forest Ecosystems

The Global Carbon Cycle refers to the continuous flow of carbon from the land and water, through the atmosphere and living organisms. Within the cycle there are carbon sinks and carbon emitters. As one of the largest reservoirs of carbon on Earth, forests play a huge role in the global carbon cycle. But how do we know? In this episode, we speak to geoscientist Dr. Ralph Dubayah to explore the applications of GEDI and NISAR in assessing carbon capture in Earth's forests. Dr. Dubayah sheds light on the incredible capabilities of GEDI, a lidar-based instrument on the International Space Station, which measures forest structure in three dimensions, providing precise estimates of biomass and carbon content. He also shares insights into NISAR, a forthcoming joint NASA-ISRO mission that uses synthetic aperture radar to track surface deformation and offer a comprehensive understanding of forest biomass changes. Throughout the episode, Dr. Dubayah showcases exciting discoveries made possible by these technologies, highlighting their potential for revolutionizing our understanding of forest carbon capture and its crucial role in mitigating climate change.