-A decade of high-resolution data empowering CEOS efforts on global forest monitoring-
The RADARSAT-2 Tropical Forests data opportunity aligns with Canada’s commitment, taken in 2024 under CSA’s CEOS Chairmanship, to globally share RADARSAT-2 archive datasets for science and research.
Ever wondered what you could uncover with access to an untapped RADARSAT-2 archive? The RADARSAT-2 Tropical Forests data opportunity now offers researchers and scientists around the world free access to this newly available dataset.
November 4th marked 30 years of the RADARSAT program, a legacy defined by innovation, collaboration, and global impact. Since the launch of RADARSAT-2 in 2007, it has been owned and operated by MDA Space while the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) helped fund the construction and launch of the satellite. Following the purchase of processed RADARSAT-2 data over the tropical forests, the CSA has been launching a new data access opportunity, in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada’s Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) and MDA Space.
The high-resolution C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data (figure 1) available through the Earth Observation Data Management System (EODMS) platform, spans over a decade – from 2014 to 2024. It offers a 24-day revisit over four main regions: Africa, Central and South America and South-East Asia with Indonesia and additional areas expected to be available in 2026.
Figure 1: RADARSAT-2 tropical forests density map representing the location of each continental datasets and the number of images processed to date among a larger number acquired from 2014-2024 (Credit: MDA Space)
The circumtropical region is host to vast expanses of tropical forests which are crucial ecosystems that play a vital role in regulating the climate. They also act as key carbon sinks and support the water cycle, thereby they provide essential ecosystem services for populations at both local and global scales.
Despite their importance, tropical forests face significant threats from both natural and anthropogenic factors. In turn, this changes their structure, composition and various other essential biodiversity variables. In this context, the RADARSAT-2 Tropical Forests data opportunity offers an extensive and unparalleled temporal record to monitor changes in forest cover and support diverse research topics within the Earth observation and SAR user community, and beyond.
In the context of climate change and biodiversity crises, CSA’s data opportunity’s goals are to enhance tropical forest research by offering access to a unique dataset. This opportunity is expected to foster collaboration among various user groups including scientists, governments, and conservation experts. This would strengthen common efforts and contribute to more informed decision-making, albeit with non-commercial objectives.
Applicants from around the world are invited to access the data for non-commercial purposes: RADARSAT-2 Tropical Forests: data access opportunity. Follow the registration steps to access and download the cost-free datasets in unlimited quantities.
