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European forest disturbance alerting using Sentinel-1

This study presents a near-real-time forest disturbance alert system for Europe using Sentinel-1 radar data, which works reliably under all weather conditions and throughout the year. By integrating temperature data (ERA5-Land) and forest type information, the method accounts for seasonal and environmental effects on radar signals. Validation shows high accuracy, especially when forest cover data […]

This study presents a near-real-time forest disturbance alert system for Europe using Sentinel-1 radar data, which works reliably under all weather conditions and throughout the year. By integrating temperature data (ERA5-Land) and forest type information, the method accounts for seasonal and environmental effects on radar signals. Validation shows high accuracy, especially when forest cover data errors are excluded. Disturbances are typically detected within 27 days, with potential reduction to near real time. The system improves detection of small-scale events and reveals seasonal disturbance patterns across Europe. It offers a valuable tool for forest management, conservation, carbon monitoring, and law enforcement.

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