Satellite radar can see through thick clouds to catch illegal logging in real time
Advanced satellite radar technology now penetrates thick cloud cover and darkness to monitor forests in real-time, allowing authorities to detect illegal logging activities with over 90% accuracy.
Europe's Sentinel-1 satellites utilize synthetic aperture radar to track forest disturbances regardless of weather conditions. Unlike traditional optical sensors that are blinded by clouds, this radar pulses through the atmosphere to spot changes in tree cover from an altitude of 693 kilometers. By combining this data with temperature models, the system can distinguish between natural seasonal shifts and human-led logging, achieving a 91% accuracy rate.
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