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Often referred to as the lungs of the Earth due to their carbon-storing power, forests are also deeply vulnerable to environmental stress. A new study harnessing NASA’s laser technology aboard the International Space Station provides the most comprehensive view yet of how climate change is altering the structure of tropical forests around the world.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study titled Environmental drivers of spatial variation in tropical forest canopy height: Insights from NASA’s GEDI spaceborne LiDAR uses data from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument—a laser-based LiDAR system aboard the space station—to analyze tropical forest canopy height and assess how it is influenced by climate stressors such as heat and drought.
The forest canopy, the uppermost layer formed by mature trees, is a key indicator of ecosystem health and productivity. “In general, taller canopies are associated with higher carbon storage and greater biomass,” said Shaoqing Liu, postdoctoral fellow in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) at Harvard and lead author of the study. “They also help buffer local microclimates, even reducing temperatures during heatwaves.”
The research focused on undisturbed tropical forests across Asia, Africa, and South America, avoiding regions with heavy human activity like logging. Previous studies of canopy height were limited in scope, but GEDI enabled the researchers to gather detailed, high-resolution data across vast forest regions.
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“Over the last decade, NASA has been using the International Space Station as a platform for testing cutting-edge remote sensing tools,” said Paul Moorcroft, professor of OEB and senior author on the study. “GEDI is a prime example, providing detailed insights into the vertical structure of forest canopies.”
The instrument, pronounced “Jedi,” can detect fine variations in canopy height, leaf density, and forest structure. Liu explained that nearly 75 percent of the variation in tropical canopy height can be attributed to factors like climate, elevation, and soil properties. The study found that elevation, dry season length, and solar radiation were the strongest predictors of canopy height.
One striking finding emerged in the southern Amazon: prolonged dry seasons, which are intensifying with climate change, are significantly reducing canopy height. “In this region, the dry season is the dominant factor influencing forest structure,” said Liu. “And since climate models predict these dry seasons will continue to lengthen, we can expect notable declines in canopy height.”
The research also revealed that the drivers of canopy height differ across regions. In the central Amazon and parts of Africa, elevation plays a larger role than seasonal dryness due to consistently moist conditions.
Understanding these variations is vital for global climate policy, according to Moorcroft. “Forest canopy height is closely tied to carbon sequestration potential. Knowing what influences it helps us assess which regions are most valuable—and most vulnerable—when it comes to climate resilience.”
Liu emphasized the importance of extending this research beyond primary forests to include broader forest and woodland ecosystems. He hopes the findings will inform climate and conservation policies.
“Tropical forests aren’t just rich in biodiversity—they’re essential for storing carbon,” Liu said. “Protecting them is critical for slowing climate change. With tools like GEDI, we can help decision-makers identify and prioritize the areas most at risk.”
Posted : 08/04/2025 6:09 am
Often referred to as the lungs of the Earth due to their carbon-storing power, forests are also deeply vulnerable to environmental stress. A new study harnessing NASA’s laser technology aboard the International Space Station provides the most comprehensive view yet of how climate change is altering the structure of tropical forests around the world.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study titled Environmental drivers of spatial variation in tropical forest canopy height: Insights from NASA’s GEDI spaceborne LiDAR uses data from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument—a laser-based LiDAR system aboard the space station—to analyze tropical forest canopy height and assess how it is influenced by climate stressors such as heat and drought.
The forest canopy, the uppermost layer formed by mature trees, is a key indicator of ecosystem health and productivity. “In general, taller canopies are associated with higher carbon storage and greater biomass,” said Shaoqing Liu, postdoctoral fellow in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) at Harvard and lead author of the study. “They also help buffer local microclimates, even reducing temperatures during heatwaves.”
The research focused on undisturbed tropical forests across Asia, Africa, and South America, avoiding regions with heavy human activity like logging. Previous studies of canopy height were limited in scope, but GEDI enabled the researchers to gather detailed, high-resolution data across vast forest regions.
https://github.com/BrentGNT/Arch2
https://github.com/TomGMN/ffkoa
https://github.com/BryanEMD/kkstb
https://github.com/CodyEGT/Sfumm
https://github.com/ErikBDT/Fcumg
https://github.com/DorianKVT/Mwum
https://github.com/JeremyEGT/Ahum9
https://github.com/AidenBMT/Wmumd
https://github.com/BlakeTNS/S2ugm
https://github.com/BrettKNO/Zadzmg
https://github.com/BrodyTNN/Cscofps
https://github.com/CalebSNT/Bmumg
https://github.com/CarterSMN/KtbsK
https://github.com/ChaseDNT/Trucg
https://github.com/CooperTRN/Sf2ueg
https://github.com/DaltonYNT/Ssumg
https://github.com/EthanGNM/Wwhug
https://github.com/JacksonMRT/Bwum
https://github.com/AtevenKLD/Wtmum
https://github.com/JoshBDO/Coum5
“Over the last decade, NASA has been using the International Space Station as a platform for testing cutting-edge remote sensing tools,” said Paul Moorcroft, professor of OEB and senior author on the study. “GEDI is a prime example, providing detailed insights into the vertical structure of forest canopies.”
The instrument, pronounced “Jedi,” can detect fine variations in canopy height, leaf density, and forest structure. Liu explained that nearly 75 percent of the variation in tropical canopy height can be attributed to factors like climate, elevation, and soil properties. The study found that elevation, dry season length, and solar radiation were the strongest predictors of canopy height.
One striking finding emerged in the southern Amazon: prolonged dry seasons, which are intensifying with climate change, are significantly reducing canopy height. “In this region, the dry season is the dominant factor influencing forest structure,” said Liu. “And since climate models predict these dry seasons will continue to lengthen, we can expect notable declines in canopy height.”
The research also revealed that the drivers of canopy height differ across regions. In the central Amazon and parts of Africa, elevation plays a larger role than seasonal dryness due to consistently moist conditions.
Understanding these variations is vital for global climate policy, according to Moorcroft. “Forest canopy height is closely tied to carbon sequestration potential. Knowing what influences it helps us assess which regions are most valuable—and most vulnerable—when it comes to climate resilience.”
Liu emphasized the importance of extending this research beyond primary forests to include broader forest and woodland ecosystems. He hopes the findings will inform climate and conservation policies.
“Tropical forests aren’t just rich in biodiversity—they’re essential for storing carbon,” Liu said. “Protecting them is critical for slowing climate change. With tools like GEDI, we can help decision-makers identify and prioritize the areas most at risk.”
