Team
Investigators
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Breno Izidoro
Investigator
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B-PRONTO uses P-band radar product to assess how well the they can detect forest disturbance and track regrowth across Brazil, cutting through cloud cover and canopy alike to deliver a transparent, verifiable record for national forest monitoring and reporting.
Optical satellites lose the forest to cloud cover for much of the year, and even radar at shorter wavelengths struggles to see past the canopy into the structure beneath it. P-band radar penetrates further, making it possible to detect disturbance and regrowth in Brazil's forests with a consistency that optical and C/L-band records can't match.
B-Pronto aims to evaluate L2 products from ESA's satellite mission: BIOMASS. Using product information on forest height and aboveground biomass, the project will quantify forest disturbance and regrowth impacts in Brazil's tropical forests. B-PRONTO will compare and validated the products against Brazilian field and reference data, focusing on disturbance and forest regrowth and move towards quantifying aboveground biomass loss and gains, respectively. The project will assess the suitability and applicability of the new satellite mission towards improving estimates of carbon loss and recovery and supporting national greenhouse gas inventories and climate policy.
Compare BIOMASS L2 products (e.g. height) with field and other data, especially at regrowth supersites
Characterize secondary forest regrowth trajectories following disturbance, distinguishing recovery from degradation using a combination of remote sensing products.
Share results throughtout project lifespan with potential end-users who may benefit from BIOMASS data e.g. NGHGI team for regrowth assessment.
Report updates to ESA and present results at international conferences and prepare research publications
| Mission / Sensor | Variable | Coverage | Resolution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOMASS / P-band SAR | Sub-canopy disturbance & structure | Brazil (national) | [Resolution] | [Mission phase] |
| Sentinel-1 / C-band SAR | Change detection, cross-check | Brazil (national) | 10–20 m | Operational |
| ALOS-2 / PALSAR-2 | L-band backscatter, regrowth | [Region] | [Resolution] | Operational |
| Field & reference network | Ground-truth validation | [N] plots | Point | Ongoing |
Project members will meet with ESA technical officer to offical launch the project
Project members will aim present first comparision and validation of BIOMASS at the Brazilian Symposium of remote sensing
ATBD and Project validation report
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