The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) for the ICESat mission

Author

Abshire, J.B. ; Ketchum, E.A. ; Afzal, R.S. ; Millar, P.S. ; Sun, X.

Author_Institution

Laser Remote Sensing Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

fYear

2000

fDate

7-12 May 2000

Firstpage

602

Lastpage

603

Abstract

Summary form only given.The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System is a next generation space lidar whose design combines a 10 cm precision surface measurements with a dual wavelength cloud and aerosol lidar in for long-term continuous use in orbit. GLAS is scheduled to be launched into a 598 km circular polar orbit in summer 2001 as part of NASA´s ICESat mission. The orbit and mission parameters are summarized. The orbit´s 94 degree inclination was selected to optimize the crossing ground track patterns over Greenland and Antarctica and to enable data comparison with other NASA Earth Science instruments. GLAS will determine the orbit altitude, position and time from an on-board GPS receiver, and is designed to operate continuously for 3-5 years.

Keywords

hydrological techniques; optical radar; radar altimetry; remote sensing by laser beam; terrain mapping; Antarctic ice sheets; Geoscience Laser Altimeter System; Greenland ice sheets; ICESat mission; atmospheric backscatter profiles; dual wavelength cloud and aerosol lidar; long-term continuous use; mission parameters; nadir distance; next generation space lidar; on-board GPS receiver; orbit altitude; orbit parameters; orbit position; orbit time; precision surface measurements; seasonal changes; Aerosols; Antarctica; Clouds; Extraterrestrial measurements; Geoscience; Laser radar; Optical design; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Wavelength measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2000. (CLEO 2000). Conference on

Conference_Location

San Francisco, CA, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-634-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEO.2000.907447

Filename

907447