Investigating forest biomass on ground level

Studies at ground level are also advancing our knowledge of vegetation health and biomass under the forest canopy. While satellite observations, from missions such as SMOS and Biomass, can do this on a large scale, continuous ground reference observations are also needed to validate the data. Studies such as the one pictured here, led by scientist Paul Vermunt of the University of Twente in the Netherlands, are able to analyse vegetation optical depth with ground-based instruments (using Global Navigation Satellite System, or GNSS, data). The observations are taken from multiple locations, forming a network of reference points. The research conducted by Paul is funded by the ESA Living Planet Fellowship.

Read full story: SMOS adds long-term view on carbon stored in forests