Introduction:
The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite, scheduled for launch in early 2024, promises groundbreaking insights into Earth’s forests and wetlands, according to the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) of NASA.
This collaborative mission between NASA and ISRO aims to illuminate the profound impact of ecosystem changes on the global carbon cycle and climate change.
The Role of Forests and Wetlands:
Forests sequester carbon within their trees, while wetlands store it in their organic soil layers. Any disruption to these ecosystems, whether gradual or abrupt, can hasten the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
Nisar’s objective is to track land-cover changes globally, facilitating the study of their impact on the carbon cycle, which involves the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, land, ocean, and living organisms.
Key Contributions of Nisar:
Deforestation Impact: Deforestation, responsible for around 11% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, is a significant concern for global climate efforts. Nisar’s data will provide invaluable insights into the impact of global deforestation on the carbon cycle and its role in global warming.
Understanding Carbon Sources: Nisar will significantly enhance our understanding of carbon sources and sinks in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in less dense forests vulnerable to deforestation and degradation.
Advanced Radar Technology: The satellite will employ rad
Mission Overview:
Upon its launch, Nisar will embark on an ambitious mission, scanning the entirety of Earth’s land and ice surfaces approximately every 12 days.
Equipped with advanced radar technology, the satellite will focus on two critical ecosystems—forests and wetlands—that play pivotal roles in maintaining greenhouse gas balance and understanding climate change.ars in two frequencies, L-band and S-band, allowing it to penetrate forest canopies and provide precise insights into forest density and changes over time.
This technology can help identify causes of changes, including disease, human activity, or fire.
Rainforest Study: Nisar’s data will be instrumental in studying vast rainforests, including those in the Congo and Amazon basins, to improve our understanding of deforestation, forest degradation, and growth. This supports countries transitioning to sustainable practices and reducing carbon emissions.
Geological Events Monitoring: Nisar will aid researchers in understanding geological events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, subsidence, and uplift by providing vital data on land motion.
Glacier and Sea Ice Monitoring: The satellite will monitor the movement and melting of glaciers and sea ice, offering critical information for climate and environmental studies.
Conclusion:
The Nisar satellite represents a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO that will provide unprecedented insights into Earth’s vital ecosystems. Its advanced radar technology and comprehensive coverage promise to revolutionize our understanding of forests, wetlands, and their role in the global carbon cycle, ultimately advancing our knowledge of climate change.
SRIRAM’s
