Canadian Space Agency Emphasizes The Importance Of Monitoring Ecosystems With Satellites

JAKARTA In accordance with the topic of discussion at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) alluded to the importance of observing and protecting the ecosystem.

In its official release, CSA said that ecosystem observations need to be supported by satellites. With satellites, humans not only see changes to the ecosystem on Earth, but also understand and protect its diversity.

"For example, remote sensing techniques provide important data on wildlife and its habitat and the Global Positioning System (GPS) device can be used to track different species," CSA wrote.

So far, CSA already has three satellites driving ecosystem observations. These three satellites are RADARSAT one and two, SMOS, serta SWOT. These three satellites were developed for different observation missions.

RADARSAT is used to monitor the sea, monitor the environment and ice, and manage disasters and resources. Unlike SMOS, this satellite is used to map sea levels, monitor soil moisture, understand water cycles, and map snow-covered areas.

Meanwhile, the SWOT satellite will be used to observe sea levels and measure changes in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and oceans at all times. This satellite is still being developed and there is no launch schedule yet.

CSA explained that its satellites have been working with many parties to monitor forests, monitor protected areas and wildlife habitats, protect North Atlantic brush whales, classify wetland, and map Canadian beaches.

From the performance of these three satellites, CSA realizes that the ecosystem can be monitored optimally using satellites. According to him, the earth ecosystem is so important that humans need to use a better way of monitoring and protecting it.