NASA-backed ABoVE research improves biomass mapping to track carbon in warming Arctic and boreal forests

Two new studies led by University of Utah researchers under NASA's ABoVE campaign aim to improve how scientists measure biomass and carbon storage across Arctic and boreal North America. One study compares nine satellite-based biomass datasets to help researchers choose the right map for specific uses like tracking wildfire impacts or national carbon budgets. The other introduces a new high-resolution biomass map covering 1984 to 2022 at 30-meter resolution, allowing detection of changes from fires, logging, and drought. These regions are warming up to four times faster than the global average, raising concerns that boreal forests and tundra could shift from carbon sinks to carbon sources. The new mapping tools are designed to help scientists track whether northern ecosystems are absorbing more CO2 as temperatures rise or releasing stored carbon through increased disturbances. Better biomass data is critical for understanding the global carbon balance and informing climate mitigation efforts.