皇家华人

A new laser scanning method that sizes up live trees in three dimensions is providing accurate measures of the world鈥檚 carbon stores and highlighting the value of trees in tackling climate change.

Trees听are听one of the planet鈥檚 key听stores听for听carbon, so听conservation听of听forests听and additional tree planting听are听important parts听of global strategies to听mitigate听greenhouse gas emissions.听听

To estimate the size of forests and the amount of carbon they can store,听scientists听use ground-based measures and听data collected by satellites听in space.听

鈥淯ntil now, accurate measurements听have been hampered by听the difficulties of听assessing听the听mass听of听live trees,鈥澨齟xplains听Professor Mathias听Disney听(UCL Geography).听

鈥�鈥淭his technology will also help us understand better how plants absorb and release carbon naturally, in response to changing climate and under an increasing range of human activities.鈥澨�

Professor Disney听has听adapted听a technology听called听terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)听to听measure听forests鈥櫶齭tructure and听the amount of material听within them that听is听capable of storing听carbon.听听

To provide a detailed听3D听鈥榩icture鈥� of the forest, laser pulses听are听directed听up to a million times a second听at different parts of the forest.鈥疶he laser records the precise 3D location of every听鈥渉it鈥�.听Analysing these听detailed 3D maps听provides听accurate听information on the听shape and volume of every tree, branch and leaf that the laser听鈥渟ees鈥�.听

This information, combined with data from听space missions from听NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA),听as well as other national and international听space听agencies,听provides more detailed and accurate information on the world鈥檚听carbon stocks.听

Professor Disney is working with听ecologists, forestry and climate researchers听and听non-governmental听organisations听around the world听to quantify the extent and benefits of听forests听鈥撎齠rom large tropical forests to small听urban forests听鈥撎齮o听help planners and policy-makers make better听land management decisions听to conserve听and extend forests.听

鈥淭his technology听will听also听help听us听understand听better听how plants听absorb听and release carbon naturally, in response to changing climate and under an increasing range of human activities, such as fire and deforestation,鈥澨齈rofessor Disney explains.听