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The NISAR Satellite: Exploring Earth’s Ecosystems and Climate Change
The ‘NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar’ (NISAR) is an upcoming earth observation satellite that will provide valuable insights into the impact of changes in Earth’s forest and wetland ecosystems on the global carbon cycle and climate change. This collaborative project between NASA and ISRO is set to launch in early 2024.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the NISAR radar satellite mission will focus on analyzing two key ecosystems – forests and wetlands. These ecosystems play a crucial role in naturally regulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which contribute to global climate change.
Once in orbit, NISAR’s sophisticated radar systems will scan the Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. The data collected will help researchers understand how these ecosystems capture and release carbon. Forests store carbon in their trees, while wetlands store it in their organic soil layers. Disruption or degradation of these systems can accelerate the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
By tracking land-cover changes on a global scale, researchers will gain valuable insights into the impacts on the carbon cycle – the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, land, ocean, and living things.
NISAR’s radar technology will provide a comprehensive and reliable view of how Earth’s land and ice are changing over time. This satellite mission marks the first hardware development collaboration between NASA and ISRO for an Earth-observing mission.
The project is a joint effort, with JPL leading the US component by providing the mission’s L-band SAR and other equipment, while ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru handles the ISRO component, including the spacecraft bus, S-band SAR electronics, and launch services.
Overall, the NISAR satellite mission holds great promise for enhancing our understanding of Earth’s ecosystems, carbon cycle dynamics, and their influence on climate change.
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