In News:

The Biomass Mission is a new Earth observation mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at enhancing our understanding of the global carbon cycle through accurate forest biomass measurements.

Launch Details:

• Rocket: Vega-C
• Launch Site: Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana
• Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of ~666 km
• Scheduled Launch Date: 29 April 2025 (subject to final checks)

Key Features:

• First satellite to use P-band radar (long-wavelength synthetic aperture radar).
• Capable of penetrating dense forest canopies to scan tree trunks, branches, and stems — where most of a tree’s carbon is stored.
• Will generate 3D maps of the world’s tropical forests.

Mission Objectives:

• Measure above-ground forest biomass and forest height.
• Create five global biomass maps over its five-year mission.
• Monitor changes in forests to assess their role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

Scientific Importance:

• Forests absorb ~8 billion tonnes of CO? annually and are often referred to as "Earth’s green lungs."
• By analyzing forest carbon storage and changes, the mission will contribute significantly to:
  • Monitoring climate change
  • Supporting carbon accounting
  • Improving air quality assessments

Phases of the Mission:

1. Initial Phase: Produces detailed 3D forest maps globally.
2. Second Phase: Generates global estimates of forest height and biomass.

Relevance to Climate Action:

• Helps in quantifying carbon uptake and release.
• Supports global climate models and carbon budgeting.
• Aids in policy-making for sustainable forest management.

In News:

In May 2025, Mount Marapi, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted, spewing a column of volcanic ash 1.5 km into the sky. The event has once again highlighted the seismic vulnerability of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic activity frequently triggers volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

About Mount Marapi

• Location: Situated in the Padang Highlands of western Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Type: A stratovolcano (composite volcano), consisting of successive layers of lava, ash, and pyroclastic material.
• Elevation: Rises to 2,891 meters (9,485 feet) above sea level, making it the highest peak in the region.
• Summit Feature: Contains the Bancah caldera (approx. 1.4 km wide), with multiple overlapping craters.
• Tectonic Setting: Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone encircling the Pacific Ocean.
• Notable Eruption: In 1979, a deadly eruption-induced lahar (volcanic mudflow) caused by intense rainfall resulted in 60 fatalities.

In News:

Scientists who recently discovered that metal lumps on the dark seabed make oxygen, have announced plans to study the deepest parts of Earth's oceans in order to understand the strange phenomenon.

What is Dark Oxygen?

Dark Oxygen refers to oxygen produced deep under the ocean without sunlight or photosynthesis.
Discovered in July 2024, this challenges the long-standing belief that photosynthesis is the sole natural source of oxygen.

Where was it discovered?

• Location: Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), 13,100 feet deep in the North Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Mexico.
• Zone Significance: Rich in polymetallic nodules containing manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium — crucial for green technologies.

Mechanism of Oxygen Production

• Polymetallic nodules on the seafloor generate oxygen via electrochemical reactions.
• These nodules split seawater (H?O) molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, without any light.
• This process is non-biological and independent of photosynthesis.

Why is this Discovery Important?

• Scientific Paradigm Shift: Challenges the idea that photosynthesis is the only natural pathway for oxygen generation.
• Origins of Life: Suggests that oxygen production may have existed before photosynthetic organisms, reshaping theories of early Earth’s evolution.
• Astrobiological Implications: Indicates the possibility of oxygen-rich environments on other planets, even without sunlight — enhancing the search for extraterrestrial life.
• Environmental Tech Potential: Could lead to innovations in renewable energy and carbon-neutral technologies, using metal-based catalysis.

About the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ)

• Geographic span: Between Hawaii and Mexico in the North Pacific Ocean.
• Resources: Contains vast reserves of critical minerals like manganese, nickel, cobalt — essential for electric vehicles and solar technology.
• A focus area for deep-sea mining and sustainability studies.