Earth  ID: 12141

ICESat-2 Beam Pairs

The ATLAS lidar on ICESat-2 uses 6 laser beams to measure the earth’s elevation and elevation change. By arranging the beams in three pairs of two, scientists can also determine the slope between the two beams, a key component of determining elevation change along the Reference Ground Track. Each time ATLAS collects data along a particular track, onboard software aims the laser beams so that the Reference Ground Track is always between the two beams, as shown in the animation. This allows scientists to combine the elevation and slope information from two different passes to determine elevation change along the Reference Ground Track.
 

Used Elsewhere In


Related


Credits

Ryan Fitzgibbons (USRA): Lead Producer
Chris Meaney (HTSI): Lead Animator
Thorsten Markus (NASA/GSFC): Lead Scientist
Thomas A. Neumann Ph.D. (NASA/GSFC): Lead Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center