SCIENTIST SAYS / NGC MONTHLY SERIES / MAY 2026

Dr Johannes Reiche - Expert in Radar Remote Sensing

Wed 13 May 2026,  NGC Communication Team

Dr Johannes Reiche. Photo: Johannes Balling (Wageningen University).

SCIENTIST SAYS – OUR MONTHLY INTERVIEW SERIES  Dr Johannes Reiche is an Associate Professor and leads the Radar Remote Sensing team at the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing in Wageningen University and Research. Johannes’ main research focuses on using radar remote sensing to monitor human activity and forest ecosystem dynamics across scales.

Hi Johannes, please tell us about yourself briefly!

I use radar remote sensing to better understand human impacts on forests and the dynamics of forest ecosystems, from regional to global scales. I am particularly interested in developing fundamental radar and multi-sensor methods, near-real-time forest change monitoring, and approaches that connect satellite observations with field data.

Since I have started working with radar data, I am excited about the interaction of the radar signal with vegetation and how much we can learn from it.

A few examples of my work include the development of the pan-tropical RADD forest disturbance alerts, representing the land community in the Sentinel-1 Next-Generation Mission Advisory Group, and leading the GFOI R&D group on deforestation alerts. What motivates me is the possibility to turn complex satellite data into timely, actionable information for forest monitoring.

How do you use radar to study forests?

Radar is especially powerful because it can observe forests through clouds and independent of daylight. This makes it highly valuable in tropical regions, where optical satellite data are often limited by persistent cloud cover.

I use dense radar time series, especially from missions such as Sentinel-1, to detect forest disturbances, regrowth, and changes in forest structure in near-real time. This allows us to monitor places where information has historically been sparse, such as the Congo Basin. For me, the key value of radar is that it helps reveal forest dynamics that would otherwise remain hidden or be detected too late.

I am super excited about the next-generation long-wavelength radar missions, including NISAR and ESA BIOMASS.

Radar is especially powerful because it can observe forests through clouds and independent of daylight. This makes it highly valuable in tropical regions, where optical satellite data are often limited by persistent cloud cover.

What is your role in NextGenCarbon?

In NextGenCarbon, I work in Work Package 2, In-situ Supersites & RS Integration, which focuses on improving the spatial and temporal understanding of forest disturbance and regrowth dynamics. The aim is to better quantify the diverse processes that drive greenhouse gas fluxes linked to forest loss, degradation, recovery, and regrowth.

I also co-lead the disturbance-regrowth task force. In this role, I help connect the remote sensing and modelling communities within the project, so that satellite-derived information can be more effectively translated into carbon-relevant parameters.

Our team in Wageningen contributes in two main areas. First, we work on EU-level forest disturbance mapping and attribution of disturbance agents. Second, we explore how fire severity can be mapped more accurately by combining spaceborne LiDAR with multi-frequency radar observations from Sentinel-1, NISAR, and ESA’s BIOMASS.

What are your expectations for the NextGenCarbon project?

My expectation is that NextGenCarbon will help us make a significant step forward in monitoring and understanding the carbon dynamics of European and global forest ecosystems.

I particularly value the interdisciplinary nature of the consortium. The project brings together expertise in remote sensing, ecosystem modelling, carbon accounting, and forest science. For me, the disturbance-regrowth task force is a very useful space to connect these perspectives and make sure that the information we derive from satellites is directly relevant for modelling greenhouse gas fluxes.

Where can our readers find you and your work?

Wageningen website profile: https://www.wur.nl/en/persons/dr-j-johannes-reiche

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannes-reiche-81242966/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.nl/citations?user=8F919mEAAAAJ&hl=en

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Johannes is recruiting for a postdoctoral position in Long-Wavelength Radar for Forest Disturbance Monitoring at Wageningen University and Research. The closing day for applications is Friday 12 June, 2026. Read more: https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/postdoc-long-wavelength-radar-forest-disturbance-monitoring