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GEDI
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) aims to characterize the effects of changing climate and land use on Earth. Specifically, GEDI helps researchers study ecosystem structure and dynamics to enable radically improved quantification and understanding of Earth's carbon cycle and biodiversity.
From its vantage point on the International Space Station (ISS), GEDI uses lidar to provide the first global, high-resolution observations of forest vertical structure. GEDI addresses three core science questions: What is the aboveground carbon balance of the land surface? What role will the land surface play in mitigating atmospheric carbon dioxide in the coming decades? How does ecosystem structure affect habitat quality and biodiversity?