Tech Life Weighing the world's forests
Apr 29, 2025
Bob Goodson, co-author of 'Like,' dives into the fascinating history of the 'like' button, revealing its origins and the profound impact it has had on our online lives. He discusses a groundbreaking satellite mission aimed at measuring global forests and their role in climate change, highlighting the innovative technology used to gather crucial data. Additionally, the conversation touches on how tech is digitizing agriculture in Ghana, empowering farmers and streamlining the selling process to enhance market access.
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Biomass Mission Weighs Forests
- The Biomass mission aims to weigh how much wood exists in forests from space at an approximately 200 meters scale.
- Knowing this wood mass is crucial since about half of wood is carbon, directly linked to climate change.
Deforestation Fuels Climate Change
- Losing forests adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
- Forest loss also affects local climate factors like rainfall, temperature, and biodiversity.
Location Matters for Tree Planting
- Planting trees can warm or cool the planet depending on location due to differences in sunlight reflection.
- In snow-covered northern regions, trees absorb sunlight and warm the planet, unlike tropical forests where trees help cool by absorbing CO2.