ICESat-2
ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2) is a NASA Earth observation satellite designed to measure changes in the height of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and land vegetation. Launched on September 15, 2018, ICESat-2 uses a laser altimeter called the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) to collect highly precise elevation data. This data is crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on polar regions and global sea level rise.
ATLAS emits green laser pulses at a rate of 10 kHz, splitting each pulse into six beams to provide dense and accurate measurements across the satellite's track. By precisely timing the return of these laser pulses, ICESat-2 can determine the elevation of the Earth's surface with centimeter-level accuracy.
The primary objectives of the ICESat-2 mission include:
- Measuring ice sheet elevation change to determine ice sheet mass balance.
- Measuring sea ice thickness to improve estimates of sea ice volume.
- Measuring vegetation canopy height.
- Measuring land topography.
- Linking observations of ice sheet and sea ice change to other Earth observation systems.
The data collected by ICESat-2 is publicly available and used by scientists worldwide to monitor changes in the cryosphere, understand the processes driving sea level rise, and improve climate models. It represents a significant advancement in Earth observation technology, providing unprecedented insights into the changing state of our planet.