Advancing 3D Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics Studies with Next-Generation Active Satellite Remote Sensing

ABSTRACT: With the upcoming launches of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) and ESA’s BIOMASS  missions in early 2025, alongside the extension of GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) observations  from the International Space Station, we are on the cusp of a new era in high-quality active remote sensing of Earth's  surface and vegetation dynamics. These missions will deploy Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) measurements across Lband, S-band, and P-band frequencies, utilizing a variety of polarimetric, interferometric, and tomographic modes.  This unprecedented synergy and individual capability of these sensors will allow us to address critical ecological and  environmental challenges, including the assessment of carbon stocks in the terrestrial biosphere, the quantification of  surface topography and vegetation structure at multiple scales—from populations to landscapes—and the  monitoring of ecosystem functions and services in response to disturbances and recovery driven by climate  change and land-use activities.