Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)
Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)
Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)
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<strong>Geoscience</strong> <strong>Laser</strong> <strong>Altimeter</strong><br />
<strong>System</strong> (<strong>GLAS</strong>)
LASER Altimetry
Greenland Ice Changes 1997 – 2003: The image shows rates of elevation<br />
change in Greenland measured along aircraft flight lines during 1997-2003,<br />
superimposed on a map of measurements from 1993-1999. Warm colors<br />
indicate elevation loss and cool colors represent elevation gain. Dark areas of<br />
red and blue indicate the highest rates of change, -/+60 cm/year respectively.<br />
Credit: NASA
ICESat Overview
Orbit
http://svsdev.gsfc.nasa.gov/cmeaney/archives/icesat/Movies/Icesat4Global.mov
Science Mission<br />
Introduction to Ice
Are the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets Growing or Shrinking?
How fast is sea level rising?
Will the ice sheets thin or thicken in a warmer climate?
Operational overview
Rapid thinning of Greenland’s coastal ice
Specifications
Instrument and Mission Specs: What is the<br />
<strong>Geoscience</strong> <strong>Laser</strong> <strong>Altimeter</strong> <strong>System</strong>
Applications / Results
Data
Theory of Measurements<br />
Bimodal waveform, with the highest<br />
peak most likely representing a tree or<br />
building in the scene<br />
Narrow waveform for a flat,<br />
uniform surface
Issues
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