New Radar System Sees Forest Problems Even If Its Cloudy

The United Nations has announced the launch of a new, first-of-its-kind Japanese radar system that will allow governments to better monitor and protect forests and peatlands.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says the radar by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is different from other technologies in that it can monitor the Earth’s surface 24 hours a day, regardless of the weather.

“This is particularly useful for tropical forested countries with persistent cloud cover,” says Julian Fox, FAO team leader for national forest monitoring, of the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar technology.

Fox adds that the technology can provide an early warning of potential deforestation. It can also detect soil moisture in peat to give an idea of whether the peatland drying out and prone to burning.

FAO signed an agreement to include JAXA’s data in its forest monitoring platforms, and it plans to train countries – including Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo – on how to use it.