Amazon deforestation satellite

Satellites like Landsat and Sentinel monitor deforestation in the Amazon, providing crucial data for environmental policies.

About this subject

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon heavily relies on remote sensing satellite technologies. Programs such as PRODES (Legal Amazon Deforestation Monitoring Project), developed by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), use images from Landsat (USA) and more recently Sentinel-2 (Europe) to detect deforested areas at 30-meter resolution. The DETER (Real-Time Detection) system complements PRODES by providing daily deforestation alerts based on data from NASA's Terra satellite and the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS). These satellites orbit at altitudes of about 700-800 km, capturing multispectral images that reveal changes in forest cover.

The importance of these satellites extends beyond detection: they allow annual deforestation rate estimation, critical area identification, and enforcement support. Landsat, for instance, has been operating since 1972, offering a 50-year historical archive. CBERS, a Sino-Brazilian partnership, provides free imagery to the Brazilian government. Recent data show deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached 13,235 km² in 2021, a 22% increase from 2020, according to INPE. Satellites also help differentiate legal from illegal deforestation, fires, and forest degradation.

Challenges include cloud cover over the Amazon and the need for constant sensor updates. Radar satellites like Sentinel-1 overcome cloudiness using microwaves. Additionally, open-source initiatives such as Global Forest Watch democratize access to this data. Combining multiple satellites and artificial intelligence algorithms has improved detection accuracy, enabling near-real-time alerts. Satellite monitoring is therefore an indispensable tool for Amazon conservation and fulfilling international climate agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which satellites are used to monitor deforestation in the Amazon?

The main ones are Landsat (USA), Sentinel-2 (Europe), CBERS (China-Brazil), and Terra (NASA). They provide optical and radar imagery to detect forest changes.

How often is deforestation monitored?

The DETER system issues daily alerts, while PRODES calculates the annual deforestation rate based on satellite images processed during the dry season (May to October).

Why is satellite monitoring important to combat deforestation?

It enables near-real-time identification of deforested areas, supports law enforcement, estimates carbon emissions, and informs conservation policies for the Amazon.