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Description

Nature-based climate solutions are an increasingly critical component of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goal of keeping temperature change to less than 2 degrees celsius. Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grasses, are a key aspect of nature-based climate solutions because of high carbon sequestration rates, long-term burial of carbon in sediments, potential for restoration, and connections to many additional ecosystem services.

This training hosted by NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training program (ARSET) builds from a series of previous trainings on Remote Sensing of Coastal Ecosystems, Remote Sensing of Mangroves, Remote Sensing of Greenhouse Gases, and Remote Sensing of Carbon Monitoring for Terrestrial Ecosystems to provide a comprehensive overview of blue carbon ecosystem remote sensing. The course guides participants through mapping extent and quantifying the carbon stocks of blue carbon ecosystems using Earth observations to support assessment, monitoring, and restoration goals of these ecosystems.

Access the Agenda (PDF, 0.3 MB)

Prerequisites

Objective

By the end of this training, attendees will be able to:

  • Identify blue carbon ecosystems and the role they play in the global carbon budget
  • Map the extent of blue carbon ecosystems using satellite observations
  • Measure the carbon stock of mapped blue carbon ecosystems
  • Identify contexts in which Earth observation data of carbon stocks in blue carbon ecosystems can inform reporting, monitoring, accounting, and advocacy

Audience

Local, regional, state, federal, foreign ministries, and non-governmental organizations involved in coastal ecosystem management. Additionally, remote sensing practitioners, academics, and students looking to learn more about how to use remote sensing to assess blue carbon.

Course Format

  • Two 90-minute parts (Dec. 3 and 5, 2024)
  • Each part will have one session delivered in French (10:00-11:30 a.m. ET) and one identical session delivered in English (2:00-3:30 p.m. ET).

Sessions

Part 1: Overview of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Mapping Mangrove Ecosystems with Earth Observations

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
  • Define a blue carbon ecosystem based on ecosystem characteristics
  • Map the extent of mangrove ecosystems using satellite observations
  • Calculate the carbon stock of mapped mangrove ecosystems

If you would like to follow along with the Google Earth Engine demonstration, please already have or create a GEE account prior to the start of the training. 

Guest Instructors

Lola Fatoyinbo (NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center), Adia Bey (NASA Goddard), María Claudia Díazgranados Cadelo (Conservation International), Siti Maryam Yaakub (International Blue Carbon Institute)

Materials

Part 2: Mapping Salt Marsh and Seagrass with Earth Observations

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
  • Map the extent of salt marsh and seagrass ecosystems using satellite observations
  • Calculate the carbon stocks of mapped salt marsh and seagrass ecosystems
  • Explore synthesis methods to estimate blue carbon across ecosystems

If you would like to follow along with the Google Earth Engine demonstration, please already have or create a GEE account prior to the start of the training. 

Guest Instructors

Kelly Luis (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Anthony Campbell, (NASA Goddard) Cheryl Doughty (NASA JPL)

Materials

Homework

Citation

(2024). ARSET - Earth Observations of Blue Carbon Ecosystems . NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET). https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/trainings/earth-observations-blue-carbon-ecosystems

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Details

Last Updated

Jan. 27, 2026

Published

Dec. 3, 2024

Data Center/Project

Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET)