ICESat-2
Overview
The Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 will measure the height of Earth from space, creating a record of the planet’s elevation in unprecedented detail and precision. With high-resolution data from ICESat-2’s laser altimeter, scientists will track changes to Earth’s polar ice caps – regions that are a harbinger of warming temperatures worldwide. The mission will also take stock of forests, map ocean surfaces, track the rise of cities and measure everything in between. ICESat-2 continues key elevation observations begun by ICESat-1 (2003 to 2009) and Operation IceBridge (2009 through present), to provide a portrait of change in the beginning of the 21st century.
For more information, please visit the ICESat-2 website.
Data Visualizations
- Visualization
ICESat-2 Sea Ice Thickness 2023
A view of the Arctic Ocean with ICESat-2 monthly average sea ice thickness data from November 2018 to April 2022. Low values are depicted in light blue, and higher values (5 meters) are depicted in magenta. || sea_ice_thickness_2023.2361_print.jpg (1024x576) [185.2 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2023.2361_searchweb.png (320x180) [86.8 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2023.2361_thm.png (80x40) [6.6 KB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_60p/sea_ice_2023/ (3840x2160) [128.0 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2023_2160p60.mp4 (3840x2160) [48.7 MB] || sea_ice_thickness_2023_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [83.2 MB] || sea_ice_thickness_2023_2160p60.webm (3840x2160) [13.7 MB] ||
- Visualization
ICESat-2 Sea Ice Thickness 2022
A view of the Arctic Ocean with ICESat-2 monthly average sea ice thickness data from November 2018 to April 2021. Low values are depicted in light blue, and higher values (5 meters) are depicted in magenta. || sea_ice_thickness_2022.1000_print.jpg (1024x576) [159.6 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2022.1000_searchweb.png (320x180) [74.6 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2022.1000_thm.png (80x40) [6.1 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2022_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [27.3 MB] || sea_ice_thickness_2022_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [3.9 MB] || frames/5760x3240_16x9_30p/sea_ice_2022/ (5760x3240) [128.0 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_2022_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [66.4 MB] ||
- Visualization
ICESat-2 Land Ice Height Change
At the whole ice sheet scale, this visualization shows the continued draw down of the major outlet glaciers in West Antarctica and in parts of East Antarctica between April 2019 and July 2021. Some areas show hints of blue, indicating places where the ice sheet surface has gone up, reflecting either increased snowfall or changes in ice dynamics. || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica.1700_print.jpg (1024x576) [106.1 KB] || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica.1700_searchweb.png (320x180) [60.9 KB] || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica.1700_thm.png (80x40) [5.7 KB] || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [4.6 MB] || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [2.1 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/icesat2_land-ice-change_antarctica/ (3840x2160) [64.0 KB] || is2_land-ice-change_antarctica_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [15.3 MB] ||
- Visualization
Global Snow Cover and Sea Ice Cycle at Both Poles
Visualization showing the changes in snow cover and sea ice with the seasons, for the years 2019-2021. || sea_ice_sidexside.0001_print.jpg (1024x576) [121.9 KB] || sea_ice_sidexside.0001_searchweb.png (320x180) [64.0 KB] || sea_ice_sidexside.0001_thm.png (80x40) [6.5 KB] || sea_ice_sidexside.0001_web.png (320x180) [64.0 KB] || sea_ice_sidexside_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [25.6 MB] || sea_ice_sidexside_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [7.1 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/full_video/ (3840x2160) [128.0 KB] || sea_ice_sidexside_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [65.8 MB] ||
- Visualization
The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA)
This visualization explores the spatial resolution of the REMA data. The camera starts out at a global view of Antarctica before zooming into the Ross Archipelago region. RADARSAT DEM data is shown as the camera pushes in, showing the limits of the data resolution. A wipe transition reveals the REMA data, exposing additional details as the camera moves down towards the surface. Terrain is represented as a mesh to show the full resolution of the data. The camera flies up a valley, exploring the detailed REMA data. LIMA imagery is revealed at the end of the visualization. This video is also available on our YouTube channel. || REMA_comp_04_hw_04150_print.jpg (1024x576) [77.2 KB] || REMA_comp_04_hw_04150_searchweb.png (320x180) [45.3 KB] || REMA_comp_04_hw_04150_thm.png (80x40) [3.4 KB] || REMA_comp_04_4k_1080p30_2.mp4 (1920x1080) [166.5 MB] || REMA_comp_04_4k_1080p60_2.mp4 (1920x1080) [171.3 MB] || REMA_comp_04_4k_1080p30_2.webm (1920x1080) [21.7 MB] || REMA_comp_04_4k_2160p30_2.mp4 (3840x2160) [587.2 MB] || REMA_comp_04_4k_2160p60_2.mp4 (3840x2160) [593.2 MB] || captions_silent.25620.en_US.srt [43 bytes] ||
- Visualization
Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Area 1979-2022
Arctic sea ice minimum 1979-2021, with graph || sea_min_w_graph_2021.1349_print.jpg (1024x576) [180.1 KB] || sea_min_w_graph_2021.1349_searchweb.png (320x180) [80.4 KB] || sea_min_w_graph_2021.1349_thm.png (80x40) [6.7 KB] || sea_min_w_graph_2021_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [33.7 MB] || sea_min_w_graph_2021_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [5.5 MB] || frames/5760x3240_16x9_30p/sea_ice_min_w_graph/ (5760x3240) [128.0 KB] || sea_min_w_graph_2021_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [89.2 MB] ||
- Visualization
Arctic Sea Ice Maximum 2022
Arctic sea ice maximum, February 25, 2022 || sea_ice_max_2022_print.jpg (1024x576) [138.6 KB] || sea_ice_max_2022.png (3840x2160) [6.8 MB] || sea_ice_max_2022_searchweb.png (320x180) [76.7 KB] || sea_ice_max_2022_thm.png (80x40) [6.1 KB] ||
- Visualization
Earth Observing Fleet (December 2021)
Earth observing fleet for December 2021 - this version includes Landsat-9 in nominal orbit and excludes Landsat-7 || fleet_2021_dec_15_HD_002.01000_print.jpg (1024x576) [75.6 KB] || fleet_2021_dec_15_HD_002.01000_searchweb.png (320x180) [40.3 KB] || fleet_2021_dec_15_HD_002.01000_thm.png (80x40) [3.8 KB] || fleet_2021_dec_15_HD_002_1080p59.94.mp4 (1920x1080) [50.2 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || fleet_2021_dec_15_HD_002_1080p59.94.webm (1920x1080) [20.8 MB] || fleet_2021_dec_15_4k_002_2160p59.94.mp4 (3840x2160) [92.5 MB] || frames/9600x3240_16x9_30p/png/ (9600x3240) [256.0 KB] || frames/9600x3240_16x9_30p/exr/ (9600x3240) [256.0 KB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/ (3840x2160) [512.0 KB] || frames/9600x3240_16x9_30p/exr_better_labels/ (9600x3240) [512.0 KB] || frames/9600x3240_16x9_30p/png_better_labels/ (9600x3240) [512.0 KB] ||
- Visualization
Studying vegetation canopy with ICESAT-2
This visualization depicts how ICESat-2 data is being used to study vegetation canopy. The visualization begins with a view of 6 beams passing over forested mountains, before zooming in on a single beam and introducing the data classification scheme. Data points are classified as ground (light brown), vegetation (green), vegetation canopy (tan), or unclassified (grey). A transparent scale using meters for distance and altitude is overlaid momentarily before the camera moves on and explores the rest of the beam data. Altitude is exaggerated 5x. || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy.03680_print.jpg (1024x576) [106.5 KB] || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy.03680_searchweb.png (320x180) [47.1 KB] || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy.03680_thm.png (80x40) [4.0 KB] || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy_1080p60.mp4 (1920x1080) [134.2 MB] || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy_1080p60.webm (1920x1080) [31.0 MB] || ICESat-2_vegetation_canopy_2160p60.mp4 (3840x2160) [390.3 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_60p/icesat2_vegetation_canopy/ (3840x2160) [1.0 MB] ||
- Visualization
Variability of Water Storage in Global Hydrological Basins
Variability of Water Level || figure_2.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [92.0 KB] || figure_2.00001_searchweb.png (320x180) [46.0 KB] || figure_2.00001_thm.png (80x40) [4.7 KB] || figure_2.mp4 (1920x1080) [82.9 MB] || figure_2.webm (1920x1080) [5.1 MB] ||
- Produced Video
NASA Laser and ESA Radar Sync Up for Sea Ice
Music: "Beautiful Serenity," Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available. || cryo2icethumb.png (1406x796) [1.1 MB] || cryo2icethumb_print.jpg (1024x579) [88.1 KB] || cryo2icethumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [53.6 KB] || cryo2icethumb_thm.png (80x40) [7.4 KB] || cryo2ice_prores.mov (1920x1080) [677.3 MB] || cryo2ice.mp4 (1920x1080) [40.5 MB] || cryo2ice_prores.webm (1920x1080) [5.5 MB] ||
- Visualization
Land Ice Height Change Between ICESat and ICESat-2
This visualization depicts changes in Antarctic land ice thickness as measured by the ICESat (2003-2009) and ICESat-2 (2018-) satellites. The camera zooms into a region near the Kamb ice stream to compare ICESat and ICESat-2 beam tracks. The beam intersections are highlighted to explain how the data at these points are used to measure how land ice has changed over time. After exploring a few regions in detail, the camera moves out to a global view and an ocean temperature dataset is revealed. || land_ice_antarctica.2870_print.jpg (1024x576) [70.5 KB] || land_ice_antarctica.2870_searchweb.png (320x180) [61.2 KB] || land_ice_antarctica_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [48.6 MB] || land_ice_antarctica_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [8.8 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/land_ice_antarctica/ (3840x2160) [256.0 KB] || frames/5760x3240_16x9_30p/land_ice_antarctica/ (5760x3240) [256.0 KB] || land_ice_antarctica_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [129.9 MB] ||
- Visualization
Measuring Sea Ice Thickness with ICESat-2
This visualization depicts sea ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean as measured by ICESat-2 over the course of several months. The visualization begins with a global view of the north pole as individual tracks are drawn over time representing each time the satellite passes overhead and collects sea ice data. A closeup view of one track is revealed, showing how the ICESat-2 laser can measure ice freeboard (height above sea level), which can be used to calculate total ice thickness. The visualization concludes by showing monthly average of sea ice thickness from November 2018 to March 2019. || sea_ice_thickness_comp_0665_print.jpg (1024x576) [89.1 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_comp_0665_searchweb.png (320x180) [59.6 KB] || sea_ice_thickness_comp_0665_thm.png (80x40) [5.1 KB] || ICESat-2_sea_ice_thickness_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [62.7 MB] || ICESat-2_sea_ice_thickness_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [10.1 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/sea_ice_comp/ (3840x2160) [256.0 KB] || ICESat-2_sea_ice_thickness_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [173.8 MB] ||
- Visualization
Rink Glacier Multi-Year Surface Elevation Comparison
Since 1993, the Airborne Topographic Mapper or ATM has been monitoring elevation changes of 160 outlet glaciers in Greenland, many of them on an almost annual basis. Rink Glacier in central west Greenland is one example of a 25-year-long time series of elevation changes. In these visualizations, elevation data for each aircraft flight over the glacier are illustrated using spheres 1m in diameter, with each sphere representing a specific measurement. When viewed together, the spheres form sheets defining the observed surface of the glacier for a given year. The spheres are colored by year, and over time we can see how the glacier's elevation changes. Towards the end of the visualization, the study area of the Rink Glacier is compared to the future coverage of the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), as represented by bright green crisscrossing ground tracks. ||
- Visualization
Arctic Sea Ice from March to September 2017
In this visualization, the daily Arctic sea ice and seasonal land cover change progress through time, from this year’s wintertime maximum extent on March 7, 2017, through September 13, 2017 when the sea ice reached its annual minimum extent for the year. Over the water, Arctic sea ice changes from day to day showing a running 3-day minimum sea ice concentration in the region where the concentration is greater than 15%. The blueish white color of the sea ice is derived from a 3-day running minimum of the AMSR2 89 GHz brightness temperature. Over the terrain, monthly data from the seasonal Blue Marble Next Generation fades slowly from month to month. || SeaIceMin2017_1920x1080_print.jpg (1024x576) [161.8 KB] || SeaIceMin2017_1920x1080_searchweb.png (320x180) [98.0 KB] || SeaIceMin2017_1920x1080_thm.png (80x40) [6.7 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_60p/ (1920x1080) [64.0 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [32.0 KB] || SeaIceMin2017_30fps_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [22.0 MB] || SeaIceMin2017_1920x1080.tif (1920x1080) [3.3 MB] || SeaIceMin2017_30fps_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [1.5 MB] ||
- Visualization
ICESat-2 Orbit
ICESat-2 orbiting Earth: starting with global view building up ground track, then riding the satellite view, then back to a global view with full ground track || icesat2_orbit26.2100_print.jpg (1024x576) [114.4 KB] || icesat2_orbit26.2100_searchweb.png (320x180) [77.7 KB] || icesat2_orbit26.2100_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || icesat2_orbit_long_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [104.5 MB] || icesat2_orbit_long_720p30.mp4 (1280x720) [42.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/long/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || frames/1280x720_16x9_30p/long/ (1280x720) [512.0 KB] || icesat2_orbit_long_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [18.2 MB] || icesat2_orbit_long_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [406.6 MB] || icesat2_orbit_long_360p30.m4v (640x360) [27.8 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/long/ (3840x2160) [512.0 KB] ||
- Visualization
Minimum Antarctic Sea Ice 2017
This movie begins at the 2016 Antarctic maximum on August 31, 2016 and shows daily sea ice concentration until the Antarctic minimum on March 3, 2017. The 2017 minimum had only 2.1 million square kilometers of sea ice extent below the previous lowest minimum extext in the satellite record that occurred in 1997. || SouthPoleSeaIce_max_min.3591_print.jpg (1024x576) [44.1 KB] || SouthPoleSeaIce_max_min.3591_searchweb.png (320x180) [39.9 KB] || SouthPoleSeaIce_max_min.3591_thm.png (80x40) [4.1 KB] || SouthPoleSeaIce_max_min.3591.tif (1920x1080) [1.5 MB] || SouthPole_Max_Min_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [19.9 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [128.0 KB] || SouthPole_Max_Min_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [4.7 MB] ||
- Visualization
Operation Icebridge Studies Changes in Greenland's Helheim Glacier
Flying down the Helheim Glacier in Greenland as ATM altimetry date is shown - first with data from 1998 then data from 2013 is added || dms20.3800_print.jpg (1024x576) [143.9 KB] || dms20.3800_searchweb.png (320x180) [55.0 KB] || dms20.3800_thm.png (80x40) [3.6 KB] || atm.mp4 (1920x1080) [274.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/atm/ (1920x1080) [256.0 KB] || atm.webm (1920x1080) [30.8 MB] || atm.m4v (640x360) [42.2 MB] ||
- Visualization
Arctic Daily Sea Ice Concentration from Arctic Minimum 2016 to Arctic Maximum 2017
This movie begins at Arctic Minimum on September 10, 2016 and shows daily sea ice concentration until the Arctic maximum on March 7, 2017. The 2017 Arctic maximum was 14.42 million square kilometers (5.57 million square miles). The average maximum (1981-2010) is 15.64 million square kilometers. || print_Arctic_Max_2017_March07.8218_print.jpg (1024x576) [138.6 KB] || print_Arctic_Max_2017_March07.8218_searchweb.png (320x180) [75.7 KB] || print_Arctic_Max_2017_March07.8218_thm.png (80x40) [6.2 KB] || NorthPole_seaIce_MIN2016_til_Max2017_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [14.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [128.0 KB] || NorthPole_seaIce_MIN2016_til_Max2017_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [3.9 MB] || print_Arctic_Max_2017_March07.8218.tif (3840x2160) [10.4 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/ (3840x2160) [128.0 KB] ||
- Visualization
Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Image: September 10, 2016
This image shows the Arctic sea ice on September 10, 2016 when the ice reached its minimum extent. The opacity of the sea ice is derived from the sea ice concentration where it is greater than 15%. The blueish white color of the sea ice is derived the AMSR2 89 GHz brightness temperature.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) provides many water-related products derived from data acquired by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) instrument aboard the Global Change Observation Mission 1st-Water "SHIZUKU" (GCOM-W1) satellite. Two JAXA datasets used in this animation are the 10-km daily sea ice concentration and the 10 km daily 89 GHz Brightness Temperature. || Arctic_Sea_Ice_Sep_10_2016.6398_print.jpg (1024x1024) [194.1 KB] || Arctic_Sea_Ice_Sep_10_2016.6398_searchweb.png (320x180) [81.8 KB] || Arctic_Sea_Ice_Sep_10_2016.6398_thm.png (80x40) [6.3 KB] || Arctic_Sea_Ice_Sep_10_2016.6398.tif (3200x3200) [52.2 MB] ||
- Visualization
Antarctic Sea Ice on August 28, 2016
This is an image of the Antarctic sea ice on August 28, 2016, the date on which the sea ice reached its maximum annual extent. The opacity of the sea ice is determined by the AMSR2 sea ice concentration. The blueish white color of the sea ice is a false color derived from the AMSR2 89 GHz brightness temperature. Over the Antarctic continent, the Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica data shown here has a resolution of 240 meters per pixel. || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_1080p_flat.11698_print.jpg (1024x576) [105.7 KB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_1080p_flat.11698_searchweb.png (320x180) [66.1 KB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_1080p_flat.11698_thm.png (80x40) [5.8 KB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_1080p_flat.11698.tif (1920x1080) [14.5 MB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_1080p_layers.11698.tif (1920x1080) [42.3 MB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_4k_flat.11698.tif (3840x2160) [55.8 MB] || Antarctic_seaIce_max_2016_09_28_4k_layers11698.tif (3840x2160) [167.0 MB] ||
- Visualization
ICESat-2 Measurements Over Antarctica (prelaunch)
ICESat-2 has 3 pairs of lasers that will measure the heights of ice and snow at very high resolution || walls75.1870_print.jpg (1024x576) [34.7 KB] || walls75.1870_searchweb.png (320x180) [29.8 KB] || walls75.1870_thm.png (80x40) [3.4 KB] || walls_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [50.0 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [128.0 KB] || walls_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [11.9 MB] || walls_360p30.mp4 (640x360) [8.1 MB] ||
- Visualization
The Thermohaline Circulation - The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
The oceans are mostly composed of warm salty water near the surface over cold, less salty water in the ocean depths. These two regions don't mix except in certain special areas. The ocean currents, the movement of the ocean in the surface layer, are driven mostly by the wind. In certain areas near the polar oceans, the colder surface water also gets saltier due to evaporation or sea ice formation. In these regions, the surface water becomes dense enough to sink to the ocean depths. This pumping of surface water into the deep ocean forces the deep water to move horizontally until it can find an area on the world where it can rise back to the surface and close the current loop. This usually occurs in the equatorial ocean, mostly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This very large, slow current is called the thermohaline circulation because it is caused by temperature and salinity (haline) variations.This animation shows one of the major regions where this pumping occurs, the North Atlantic Ocean around Greenland, Iceland, and the North Sea. The surface ocean current brings new water to this region from the South Atlantic via the Gulf Stream and the water returns to the South Atlantic via the North Atlantic Deep Water current. The continual influx of warm water into the North Atlantic polar ocean keeps the regions around Iceland and southern Greenland mostly free of sea ice year round.The animation also shows another feature of the global ocean circulation: the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The region around latitude 60 south is the the only part of the Earth where the ocean can flow all the way around the world with no land in the way. As a result, both the surface and deep waters flow from west to east around Antarctica. This circumpolar motion links the world's oceans and allows the deep water circulation from the Atlantic to rise in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the surface circulation to close with the northward flow in the Atlantic.The color on the world's ocean's at the beginning of this animation represents surface water density, with dark regions being most dense and light regions being least dense (see the animation Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity and Density). The depths of the oceans are highly exaggerated to better illustrate the differences between the surface flows and deep water flows. The actual flows in this model are based on current theories of the thermohaline circulation rather than actual data. The thermohaline circulation is a very slow moving current that can be difficult to distinguish from general ocean circulation. Therefore, it is difficult to measure or simulate. ||
Edited Features
- Produced Video
Leaders in Lidar
In this series, we dive into the legacy of Goddard's lead role in developing laser altimetry, which has revolutionized the way we map our planet, the Moon and other planets. Each chapter looks at the successes and failures of these lidar instruments, beginning with the Mars Observer Laser Altimeter in the late 1980s, through the current generation of laser altimeters on ICESat-2 and GEDI. Through dozens of interviews and archival footage, the history, challenges and legacy of lidar are uncovered. ||
- Produced Video
New Lakes Discovered Under Antarctic Ice with NASA's ICESat-2
Hundreds of meltwater lakes hide deep beneath the expanse of Antarctica’s ice sheet. With a powerful laser altimeter system in space, NASA’s Ice Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) is helping scientists "see" under the ice.For more on the story: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-space-lasers-map-meltwater-lakes-in-antarctica-with-striking-precisionComplete transcript available. || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.00300_print.jpg (1024x576) [130.6 KB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.00300_searchweb.png (320x180) [88.9 KB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.00300_web.png (320x180) [88.9 KB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.00300_thm.png (80x40) [5.6 KB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.mp4 (1920x1080) [142.1 MB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.webm (1920x1080) [14.9 MB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.en_US.srt [2.5 KB] || Icesat2_Lakes_Final.en_US.vtt [2.5 KB] ||
- Produced Video
NASA Satellite Measures the Human Impact in Water Storage
Music: "Cycle of the Moon," "Domestic Idyll," Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.This video can be freely shared and downloaded. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, some individual imagery provided by pond5.com and is obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on stock footage may be found here. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html.Notes on footage:0:27-0:33; 0:57-1:06; 2:00-2:05; 2:14-2:45 provided by pond5. || reservoirthumb_print.jpg (1024x555) [244.0 KB] || reservoirthumb.png (3152x1710) [8.9 MB] || reservoirthumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [131.1 KB] || reservoirthumb_thm.png (80x40) [11.3 KB] || Reservoirs_prores.mov (1920x1080) [4.2 GB] || Reservoirs_3-2-v2.mp4 (1920x1080) [202.9 MB] || Reservoirs_prores.webm (1920x1080) [22.0 MB] || Reservoirs.en_US.srt [3.9 KB] || Reservoirs.en_US.vtt [3.9 KB] ||
- Produced Video
NASA's ICESat-2 Looks Beyond the Icy Poles
The Hidden Talents of ICESat-2 || hiddentalentsthumb.png (1651x922) [2.1 MB] || hiddentalentsthumb_print.jpg (1024x571) [165.8 KB] || hiddentalentsthumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [74.8 KB] || hiddentalentsthumb_thm.png (80x40) [7.7 KB] || IS2HiddenTalents_Prores.mov (1920x1080) [2.6 GB] || IS2HiddenTalents_Youtube.mp4 (1920x1080) [300.5 MB] || IS2HiddenTalents_Twitter.mp4 (1280x720) [41.0 MB] || IS2HiddenTalents_FB.mp4 (1920x1080) [224.9 MB] || IS2HiddenTalents_Prores.webm (1920x1080) [20.4 MB] || IS2HiddenTalents.en_US.srt [3.2 KB] || IS2HiddenTalents.en_US.vtt [3.2 KB] ||
- Produced Video
NASA Mission Maps 16 Years of Ice Loss
Using the most advanced Earth-observing laser instrument NASA has ever flown in space, scientists have made precise, detailed measurements of how the elevation of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have changed over 16 years. The results provide insights into how the polar ice sheets are changing, demonstrating definitively that small gains of ice in East Antarctica are dwarfed by massive losses in West Antarctica. The scientists found the net loss of ice from Antarctica, along with Greenland’s shrinking ice sheet, has been responsible for 0.55 inches (14 millimeters) of sea level rise between 2003 and 2019 – slightly less than a third of the total amount of sea level rise observed in the world’s oceans. ||
- Produced Video
Science on Thin Ice
Music: "Crystalline," "Simple Truths," "Afterlife," "Echoes on Echoes," Universal Production Music.Complete transcript available. || mosaic_thumb_print.jpg (1024x572) [55.8 KB] || mosaic_thumb.png (3258x1820) [6.6 MB] || mosaic_thumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [73.1 KB] || mosaic_thumb_thm.png (80x40) [5.1 KB] || MOSAiC_prores.mov (1920x1080) [3.4 GB] || MOSAiC_social.mp4 (1920x1080) [257.6 MB] || MOSAiC_prores.webm (1920x1080) [27.6 MB] || MOSAiC.en_US.srt [4.6 KB] || MOSAiC.en_US.vtt [4.6 KB] ||
- Produced Video
Photon Phriday
Photon Phriday is a weekly look at what ICESat-2 is measuring as it orbits the Earth. ||
- Produced Video
88-South Antarctic Traverse: Year Two
Music: "Watching Evolution," "Formulas and Equations," Killer Tracks MusicComplete transcript available. || 88S_Trav_Year2.png (1910x1071) [1.9 MB] || 88S_Trav_Year2_print.jpg (1024x574) [86.4 KB] || 88S_Trav_Year2_searchweb.png (320x180) [81.0 KB] || 88S_Trav_Year2_thm.png (80x40) [6.2 KB] || 88S_Trav_Year2_prores.mov (1920x1080) [3.6 GB] || FACEBOOK_720_88S_Trav_Year2_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [296.9 MB] || TWITTER_720_88S_Trav_Year2_twitter_720.mp4 (1280x720) [50.0 MB] || YOUTUBE_1080_88S_Trav_Year2_youtube_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [405.2 MB] || 88S_Trav_Year2_prores.webm (1920x1080) [28.7 MB] || 88S_Trav_Year2.en_US.srt [5.3 KB] || 88S_Trav_Year2.en_US.vtt [5.3 KB] ||
- Produced Video
Trees Around the GLOBE
Music: "Spring Bloom," Killer Tracks Music || GLOBE_Trees.png (1586x833) [2.4 MB] || GLOBE_Trees_print.jpg (1024x537) [183.1 KB] || GLOBE_Trees_searchweb.png (320x180) [139.6 KB] || GLOBE_Trees_thm.png (80x40) [7.9 KB] || GLOBE_Trees.mp4 (1920x1080) [59.2 MB] || GLOBE_Trees_prores.mov (1920x1080) [789.0 MB] || GLOBE_Trees_prores.webm (1920x1080) [9.4 MB] || FACEBOOK_720_GLOBE_Trees_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [61.2 MB] || TWITTER_720_GLOBE_Trees_twitter_720.mp4 (1280x720) [11.2 MB] || GLOBE_Trees.en_US.srt [530 bytes] || GLOBE_Trees.en_US.vtt [543 bytes] ||
- Produced Video
New NASA Satellite Reveals Profiles of Ice, Forests and Oceans
Music: "Pizzicato Piece," Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_YouTube.00190_print.jpg (1024x576) [71.4 KB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_YouTube.00190_searchweb.png (320x180) [61.7 KB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_YouTube.00190_thm.png (80x40) [5.8 KB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_Facebook.mp4 (1920x1080) [91.6 MB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_Twitter.mp4 (1280x720) [16.8 MB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_YouTube.mp4 (1920x1080) [77.7 MB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_YouTube.webm (1920x1080) [8.1 MB] || ICESat-2_Results_AGU_prores.mov (1920x1080) [1.1 GB] || ICESat-2_AGU.en_US.srt [1.0 KB] || ICESat-2_AGU.en_US.vtt [1.0 KB] ||
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Mass Balance of Ice Sheets - Antarctica
AntarcticaMusic: "Distant Echoes," Adam Salkeld, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRS; "Evolution of Life," David Stephen Goldsmith, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRSComplete transcript available.
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Mass Balance of Ice Sheets - Greenland
AntarcticaMusic: "Distant Echoes," Adam Salkeld, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRS; "Evolution of Life," David Stephen Goldsmith, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRSComplete transcript available.
- Produced Video
Countdown to ICESat-2 Launch
"Stars Align," Andrew Michael Britton, Atmosphere Music Ltd.; "A New Hope," Al Lethbridge, Atmosphere Music Ltd.Complete transcript available. || countdown_Thumb_print.jpg (1024x577) [75.2 KB] || countdown_Thumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [76.0 KB] || countdown_Thumb_thm.png (80x40) [6.3 KB] || 13065_Countdown_prores.mov (1920x1080) [2.4 GB] || 13065_Countdown_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [228.5 MB] || 13065_Countdown_twitter_720.mp4 (1280x720) [40.0 MB] || 13065_Countdown_youtube_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [314.1 MB] || 13065_Countdown.webm (960x540) [73.1 MB] || 13065_Countdown.en_US.srt [3.7 KB] || 13065_Countdown.en_US.vtt [3.7 KB] ||
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ICESat-2 Elevates Our View of Earth - Short Version
ICESat-2 will provide scientists with height measurements that create a global portrait of Earth’s third dimension, gathering data that can precisely track changes of terrain including glaciers, sea ice, forests and more. The single instrument on ICESat-2 is ATLAS, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, will measure melting ice sheets and investigate how this effects sea level rise, investigate changes in the mass of ice sheets and glaciers, estimate and study sea ice thickness, and measure the height of vegetation in forests and other ecosystems worldwide.
- Produced Video
The 88-South Antarctic Traverse
NASA cryospheric scientist Kelly Brunt and ICESat-2 Deputy Project Scientist Tom Neumann recall some of the highlights and challenges from the recent 88-South Antarctic Traverse.Music: "Lights," Alexius Tschallener [SUISA], Dominik Johnson [PRS]; "Vulnerable Moment," John Ashton Thomas [PRS]Complete transcript available. || 12905_thumbstill_print.jpg (1024x576) [48.3 KB] || 12905_thumbstill_searchweb.png (320x180) [45.6 KB] || 12905_thumbstill_thm.png (80x40) [4.0 KB] || 12905_Post_Traverse_PRORES.mov (1920x1080) [3.6 GB] || 12905_Post_Traverse_FACEBOOK.mp4 (1920x1080) [336.9 MB] || 12905_Post_Traverse_YOUTUBE.mp4 (1920x1080) [406.9 MB] || 12905_Post_Traverse_TWITTER.mp4 (1280x720) [58.5 MB] || 12905_Post_Traverse.mp4 (1920x1080) [276.7 MB] || 12905_Post_Traverse_PRORES.webm (1920x1080) [28.0 MB] || 12905_PostTraverse.en_US.srt [5.0 KB] || 12905_PostTraverse.en_US.vtt [5.1 KB] ||
- Produced Video
NASA Scientists Trek the South Pole
Music: "Pizzicato Piece," Andrew Michael Britton, David Stephen Goldsmith, Atmosphere Music Ltd.; "We Learn," Andrew Michael Britton, Atmosphere Music Ltd.Complete transcript available. || traverse_print.jpg (1024x575) [145.3 KB] || traverse_searchweb.png (320x180) [87.3 KB] || traverse_thm.png (80x40) [6.3 KB] || 12809_Pre_Antarctic_Traverse_prores.mov (1920x1080) [2.9 GB] || 12809_Pre_Antarctic_Traverse_YOUTUBE.mp4 (1920x1080) [430.5 MB] || 12809_Pre_Antarctic_Traverse_youtube_720.mp4 (1280x720) [391.2 MB] || 12809_Pre_Antarctic_Traverse_TWITTER.mp4 (1280x720) [51.3 MB] || 12809_Antarctic_Traverse_FACEBOOK.mp4 (1920x1080) [261.9 MB] || 12809_Pre_Antarctic_Traverse_prores.webm (1920x1080) [21.5 MB] || 12809_Traverse.en_US.srt [4.5 KB] || 12809_Traverse.en_US.vtt [4.5 KB] ||
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ICESat-2 By the Numbers: 300 Trillion
ICESat-2 is an incredibly precise space laser that features the latest in NASA technology To measure ice heights, engineers have to take ICESat-2’s instrument ATLAS to the extreme – sometimes going big, sometimes going small, but always keeping it precise.
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ICESat-2 By the Numbers: 532
ICESat-2 is an incredibly precise space laser that features the latest in NASA technology To measure ice heights, engineers have to take ICESat-2’s instrument ATLAS to the extreme – sometimes going big, sometimes going small, but always keeping it precise.
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ICESat-2 By the Numbers: 90
ICESat-2 is an incredibly precise space laser that features the latest in NASA technology To measure ice heights, engineers have to take ICESat-2’s instrument ATLAS to the extreme – sometimes going big, sometimes going small, but always keeping it precise.
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ICESat-2 By the Numbers: 0.2
ICESat-2 is an incredibly precise space laser that features the latest in NASA technology To measure ice heights, engineers have to take ICESat-2’s instrument ATLAS to the extreme – sometimes going big, sometimes going small, but always keeping it precise.
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ICESat-2 By the Numbers: 1,387
ICESat-2 is an incredibly precise space laser that features the latest in NASA technology To measure ice heights, engineers have to take ICESat-2’s instrument ATLAS to the extreme – sometimes going big, sometimes going small, but always keeping it precise.
- Produced Video
ICESat-2 Elevates Our View of Earth
"Eternal Circle," Laurent Dury, Koka Media SACEMComplete transcript available. || ICESat-2_Height_SHORT_prores_youtube_1080.00258_print.jpg (1024x576) [131.1 KB] || ICESat-2_Height_SHORT_prores_youtube_1080.00258_searchweb.png (320x180) [91.2 KB] || ICESat-2_Height_SHORT_prores_youtube_1080.00258_web.png (320x180) [91.2 KB] || ICESat-2_Height_SHORT_prores_youtube_1080.00258_thm.png (80x40) [6.7 KB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores.mov (1920x1080) [956.6 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores.webm (1920x1080) [27.5 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [77.5 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores_twitter_720.mp4 (1280x720) [13.9 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores_youtube_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [105.2 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT_prores_youtube_720.mp4 (1280x720) [103.3 MB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT.en_US.srt [1.2 KB] || 12663_SHORT_HEIGHT.en_US.vtt [1.2 KB] ||
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ATLAS: Laser Focus
Deputy Systems Engineer Phil Luers explains how the ATLAS transmitter and receiver subsystems come together to calculate the timing of photons, which, in turn, measure the elevation of ice.Complete transcript available.Music: "Electric Works" by Philippe Lhommet, Koka Media; "From Source to Sea" by Christophe Lebled, Pierre Jacquot, Koka Media.
- Produced Video
Photon Jump
Pho, a plucky bright green photon of light, must travel from a NASA spacecraft down to Earth and back again to help complete a crucial science mission in this educational short film. The animation was created and produced by media art students from the Savannah College of Art in Design (SCAD) in Georgia, in collaboration with NASA’s Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission. Their goal was to communicate the science and engineering of the mission, slated for launch in 2018. ICESat-2, managed by NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Maryland, will measure the height of a changing Earth, one laser pulse at a time, 10,000 laser pulses a second. ICESat-2 will carry a photon-counting laser altimeter that will allow scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice and more - all in unprecedented detail. The workings of this laser helped inspire students to create the character of Pho and plot his adventure. Our planet's frozen and icy areas, called the cryosphere, are a key focus of NASA's Earth science research. ICESat-2 will help scientists investigate why, and how much, our cryosphere is changing in a warming climate. The satellite will also measure heights across Earth's temperate and tropical regions, and take stock of the vegetation in forests worldwide. For more about the mission, visit https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov. ||
- Animation
Pho Movie Trailer
Music: "Lay Me Down," Sarah Westen Rasmussen, William Patrick Van Alstine, Killer Tracks BMI || 12418_Pho_Teaser_large.00507_print.jpg (1024x576) [60.8 KB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_large.00507_searchweb.png (320x180) [59.7 KB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_large.00507_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_prores.mov (1920x1080) [549.5 MB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_prores.webm (1920x1080) [4.6 MB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_large.mp4 (1920x1080) [39.6 MB] || 12418_Pho_Teaser_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [57.6 MB] || GSFC_20161121_ICESat2_m12418_PhoTeaser.en_US.vtt [42 bytes] ||
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Laser Focus: The Receiver
Laser Focus: The ReceiverFor complete transcript, click here.
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ICESat-2 Overview
Animated informational slides designed to introduce the viewer to the ICESat-2 mission and ATLAS instrument. || ICESat-2_Kiosk_print.jpg (1024x576) [89.3 KB] || ICESat-2_Kiosk_searchweb.png (320x180) [62.7 KB] || ICESat-2_Kiosk_web.png (320x180) [62.7 KB] || ICESat-2_Kiosk_thm.png (80x40) [4.8 KB] || Kiosk_2019_final.mp4 (1920x1080) [150.4 MB] || Kiosk_2019_final.webm (1920x1080) [14.8 MB] ||
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Laser Focus: The Transmitter
ICESat-2's instrument, ATLAS, is designed to measure heights on Earth. ATLAS has three main tasks: transmitting a pattern of six laser beams, collecting the laser photons that return to the satellite after reflecting off Earth, and recording the travel time of those photons. First up – transmitting the laser. In this video, optical engineer Tyler Evans illustrates how the laser is transmitted from the ATLAS instrument to the ground.
- Produced Video
Intro to LIDAR 3D
Want to know the 3D shape of terrain on another planet? Want to study the height and density of Earth's forests? An amazing tool called LIDAR can help. Learn more in this video!This video is presented in stereoscopic 3D for those who can view it. We've included left and right eye clips, a side-by-side version, and an anaglyph (red/blue) version. Download any of them below! ||
Raw Media for Broadcast
HD broadcast-quality footage of the ICESat-2 spacecraft and ATLAS instrument.
ICESat-2 Testing and Integration B-roll
Go to this pageDolly shots of the ATLAS instrument inside the cleanroom. || ATLAS_dolly_selects_youtube_hq.00500_print.jpg (1024x576) [165.5 KB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_youtube_hq.00500_searchweb.png (320x180) [108.4 KB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_youtube_hq.00500_thm.png (80x40) [7.4 KB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_large.mp4 (1280x720) [201.6 MB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_prores.mov (1280x720) [2.7 GB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [868.8 MB] || ATLAS_dolly_selects_prores.webm (1280x720) [26.9 MB] || GSFC_20141015_ATLAS_m11709_Dolly_Selects.en_US.srt [50 bytes] || GSFC_20141015_ATLAS_m11709_Dolly_Selects.en_US.vtt [62 bytes] ||
Animations
Snow Accumulation
Go to this sectionAntarcticaMusic: "Distant Echoes," Adam Salkeld, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRS; "Evolution of Life," David Stephen Goldsmith, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRSComplete transcript available.
Mass Balance of Ice Sheets
Go to this sectionAntarcticaMusic: "Distant Echoes," Adam Salkeld, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRS; "Evolution of Life," David Stephen Goldsmith, Atmosphere Music Ltd. PRSComplete transcript available.
ICESat-2 Measures Sea Ice Thickness
Go to this pageAnimation showing how ICESat-2 will measure the height of sea ice freeboard (hf) – the portion of sea ice floating above the water – to estimate sea ice thickness (hi). || freeboard_thumb_print.jpg (1024x582) [32.0 KB] || freeboard_thumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [40.1 KB] || freeboard_thumb_thm.png (80x40) [3.5 KB] || SEA_ICE_V06.webm (1920x1080) [5.5 MB] || SEA_ICE_V06_prores.mov (1920x1080) [2.5 GB] || SEA_ICE_V06_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [70.8 MB] || SEA_ICE_V06_youtube_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [93.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_60p/ (1920x1080) [256.0 KB] || GSFC_20180822_ICESat2_m13049_SEAICE.en_US.vtt [64 bytes] ||
ICESat-2 Measures Slope
Go to this pageAnimation with info key. || icesat_tracks_still.png (1919x1076) [2.8 MB] || icesat_tracks_still_print.jpg (1024x574) [146.6 KB] || icesat_tracks_still_searchweb.png (320x180) [102.8 KB] || icesat_tracks_still_web.png (320x179) [102.4 KB] || icesat_tracks_still_thm.png (80x40) [9.3 KB] || IceSatTracks.mov (1920x1080) [1.8 GB] || IceSatTracks.mp4 (1920x1080) [80.7 MB] || IceSatTracks.webm (1920x1080) [6.6 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_60p/key/ (1920x1080) [256.0 KB] ||
ICESat-2 Beam Pairs
Go to this pageSide view of the beam pairs. || ICESat-2_beams_side_print.jpg (1024x576) [121.7 KB] || ICESat-2_beams_side_searchweb.png (320x180) [92.0 KB] || ICESat-2_beams_side_thm.png (80x40) [6.9 KB] || ICESat-2_beams_side.mp4 (1920x1080) [19.9 MB] || ICESat-2_beams_side.mov (1920x1080) [221.5 MB] || ICESat-2_beams_side.webm (1920x1080) [1.6 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/sideview/ (1920x1080) [16.0 KB] ||
ICESat-2 Beauty Pass
Go to this pageAnimation showing the deployment of the spacecraft and a beauty pass with the beams on. || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_youtube_hq_print.jpg (1024x576) [176.2 KB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_youtube_hq_searchweb.png (320x180) [90.3 KB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [90.3 KB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [4.9 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [64.0 KB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [31.3 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [95.5 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_prores.mov (1280x720) [454.4 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_appletv.m4v (960x540) [25.5 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_720x480.webm (720x480) [6.2 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_720x480.wmv (720x480) [30.4 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [25.6 MB] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [9.6 MB] || GSFC_20141015_ICESat2_m11712_Deploy_Beauty.en_US.vtt [64 bytes] || ICESat2__deploy_beauty_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [4.8 MB] ||
Ice Albedo - Global View
Go to this pageThis is a conceptual animation showing how polar ice reflects light from the sun. As this ice begins to melt, less sunlight gets reflected into space. It is instead absorbed into the oceans and land, raising the overall temperature, and fueling further melting. ||
Ice Albedo: Bright White Reflects Light
Go to this pageThis animation provides a close perspective of the relationship between ice and solar reflectivity. As glaciers, the polar caps, and icebergs (shown here) melt, less sunlight gets reflected into space. Instead, the oceans and land absorb the light, thus raising the overall temperature and adding energy to a vicious circle. ||
ICESat 2014 Spacecraft Animations
Go to this pageA four-shot beauty pass of ICESat on orbit || beaa075000752_print.jpg (1024x576) [90.0 KB] || beaa0750_web.png (320x180) [56.9 KB] || beaa0750_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || frames/1280x720_16x9_30p/IceSat-Beauty1/ (1280x720) [64.0 KB] || Icesat-Beauty-1.mov (1280x720) [335.6 MB] || Icesat-Beauty-1.webmhd.webm (960x540) [11.2 MB] ||
L-30 Science Briefing Graphics
ICESat-2 L-30 Science Briefing Graphics
Go to this pageNext month, NASA will launch into space the most advanced laser instrument of its kind, beginning a mission to measure – in unprecedented detail – changes in the heights of Earth’s polar ice.NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) will measure the average annual elevation change of land ice covering Greenland and Antarctica to within the width of a pencil, capturing 60,000 measurements every second.“ICESat-2’s new observational technologies will advance our knowledge of how the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contribute to sea level rise while also helping us understand the connection of sea ice loss to the global system,” said Thomas Wagner, cryosphere program scientist in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.ICESat-2 will extend and improve upon NASA's 15-year record of monitoring the change in polar ice heights, which started in 2003 with the first ICESat mission and continued in 2009 with NASA’s Operation IceBridge, an airborne research campaign that monitors the accelerating rate of change.ICESat-2 represents a major technological leap in our ability to measure changes in ice height. Its Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) measures height by timing how long it takes individual light photons to travel from the spacecraft to Earth and back.NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 22, to discuss the upcoming launch of the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2), which will fly NASA's most advanced laser altimeter to measure Earth’s changing ice. The teleconference will stream live on NASA's website.ICESat-2 is scheduled to launch Sept. 15 from Vandenberg Air Force Base.The briefing participants are: • Tom Wagner, cryosphere program scientist in the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters • Richard Slonaker, ICESat-2 program executive in SMD • Doug McLennan, ICESat-2 project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center • Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument project manager at Goddard • Tom Neumann, ICESat-2 deputy project scientist at GoddardFor more information:Media AdvisoryICESat-2 Video Resources ||
Facebook Live Broadcasts
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Inside the ATLAS Cleanroom
Time to suit up! We’re taking you into a clean room at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where the ICESat-2 satellite is currently being monitored. Here engineers and technicians take special precautions to make sure the instrument’s lasers, mirrors, and other components stay perfectly clean. ICESat-2’s sole instrument, called the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), is being put to the test in this clean room and in a nearby thermal vacuum chamber, before engineers attach it to the rest of the ICESat-2 spacecraft.
Go to this link
High Resolution Still Graphics
ICESat-2 Infographic
Go to this pageInfographic || infographic_thumb_print.jpg (1024x532) [141.4 KB] || ICESat2_Infographic.png (2625x3375) [6.8 MB] || infographic_thumb_searchweb.png (320x180) [87.7 KB] || infographic_thumb_thm.png (80x40) [6.3 KB] || Downloadable high-resolution infographic illustrating the major technology and science objectives of the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2. ||
ICESat-2 Print Material
Go to this pageVery high resolution banner graphic of the ICESat-2 spacecraft, laser pairs and sea ice. || Clean_Room_Banner_print.jpg (1024x1367) [161.0 KB] || Clean_Room_Banner.png (4493x6000) [25.5 MB] || Clean_Room_Banner_searchweb.png (320x180) [47.0 KB] || Clean_Room_Banner_thm.png (80x40) [4.2 KB] || These illustrations are an outcome of the ICESat-2/SCAD Collaborative Student Project. ||
Spacecraft Poster Still
Go to this sectionThe Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, is a laser altimeter that will measure the heights of Earth’s surfaces. With ICESat-2’s high-resolution data, scientists will track changes to Earth’s ice-covered poles, which is witnessing dramatic temperature increases. The mission will also take stock of forests, map ocean surfaces, characterize clouds and more. ICESat-2 carries a single instrument called the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), equipped with a multiple-beam laser, which sends 10,000 pulses of light to the ground each second. A small fraction of the light photons bounce off Earth’s surface and return to the instrument, where a photon-counting detector times their flight. Knowing this time, and the satellite’s position and orientation in space, scientists can calculate Earth’s elevation below. ICESat-2 continues key elevation observations begun by the original ICESat satellite (2003 to 2009) and Operation IceBridge (2009 through present), to provide a portrait of change in the beginning of the 21st century. ICESat-2 is slated for launch on a Delta-II rocket in 2017.