Plane-mounted laser imaging has allowed scientists to map the size, shape, and density of trees in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, revealing how low- and moderate-intensity burns make forests more resilient to larger blazes.
A recent study is the first worldwide elevation model using satellite Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, data to evaluate what parts of the world are most vulnerable to sea level rise.
Using airborne light detection and ranging technology, more commonly known as "lidar," a team of researchers remotely studied tree death and canopy gaps across the Brazilian Amazon.
Large portions of the Amazon rainforest are degraded by human activities. Airborne laser scans paired with an ecological model show that these areas store less carbon, carry less water, and are much more fire-prone.
The project, known as the Earth Archive, aims to capture a record of cultural sites, ecosystems, and landscapes before they are transformed by the impacts of climate change.
