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- B31F-02: Tree Water Dynamics from Radar Tomography Reveal Tropical Forest Drought Response: Insights from diurnal and seasonal measurements of radar tomography from the Throughfall Exclusion Experiment in Caxiuanã, Brazil
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NOLA CC
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Sassan Saatchi, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (First Author, Presenting Author)
Ines Fenni, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jack Bush, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Pablo Sanchez Martinez, University of Edinburgh
Patrick Meir, University of Edinburgh
Maurizio Mencuccini, CREAF
Alexandra Konings, Stanford University
The Amazon rainforest is vital to Earth's climate, helping regulate both carbon and water cycles. Trees in the Amazon play a central role by pumping water to the atmosphere and absorbing carbon, but in recent years, more frequent and severe droughts have led to major tree losses, increased wildfires, and rising vulnerability of the forest to future climate extremes. To better predict and respond to these threats, scientists need tools that can detect early signs of forest stress.In this study, we used a new type of microwave sensor system called TomoScat, installed on tall towers in the Amazon forest in Brazil, to measure how water moves through the forest. These sensors have been recording data continuously since October 2023, including during the intense 2023–2024 El Niño drought. They track changes in water content from the soil, through tree trunks, up to the forest canopy.
Our results show that TomoScat is highly sensitive to daily and seasonal changes in forest water status. By combining this remote sensing data with ground-based measurements, we can detect both long-term drought effects and short-term extreme stress. This approach could help decision-makers develop better more effective strategies to protect tropical forests under a changing climate.
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