Remote Sensing
Sentinel-1
The Copernicus radar mission that images land day or night, through cloud, with a repeat cycle of six to twelve days.
Sentinel-1 carries a C-band synthetic aperture radar. Because it provides its own illumination in the microwave range, it observes through cloud, smoke and darkness, which makes it the reliable counterpart to optical missions in the humid tropics.
Its main carbon uses are structural: detecting clearance and new roads within days, mapping flooded forest and wetland extent, and tracking regrowth where the radar response climbs as canopy closes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sentinel-1 free?
Yes, Copernicus data is openly available.
Why pair it with optical data?
Radar sees structure; optical sees species and surface condition. Together they cover each other's blind spots.