NASA Flights Map Tropical Ecosystems, Water and Ice

The monthlong campaign, Tropical Synthetic Aperture Radar (TropiSAR), concluded on June 4 after 17 flights totaling 75 hours. NASA’s C-20A aircraft from Armstrong Flight Research Center carried the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) instrument, developed at JPL, collecting high-resolution radar data from a pod mounted beneath the plane while flying repeat paths.

Airborne data were captured over Peru at the same times and locations as observations from the NISAR satellite to validate key capabilities and support calibration of the satellite’s L-band radar system. The science validation focused on two measurements: flood extent in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the world’s largest protected flooded forests, and glacier movement in Huascarán National Park, home to the largest concentration of tropical glaciers.

The mission also produced detailed 3D views of tree height and density to estimate biomass, assess forest health, and improve understanding of how forest ecosystems store and release carbon.

Peru, Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Huascarán National Park

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