GLAS (the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System) was the first laser-ranging (lidar) instrument for continuous global observations of Earth. From aboard the Ice Cloud and Elevation Satellite (ICESat) spacecraft, it made unique atmospheric observations, including measuring ice-sheet topography, cloud and atmospheric properties, and the height and thickness of radiatively important cloud layers needed for accurate short term climate and weather prediction.
Organizations
Launch Date
December 2003
Class
Instrument
Website
GLAS (the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System) was the first laser-ranging (lidar) instrument for continuous global observations of Earth. From aboard the Ice Cloud and Elevation Satellite (ICESat) spacecraft, it made unique atmospheric observations, including measuring ice-sheet topography, cloud and atmospheric properties, and the height and thickness of radiatively important cloud layers needed for accurate short term climate and weather prediction.
Related Publications
2008.
"Forest vertical structure from GLAS: An evaluation using LVIS and SRTM data.",
Remote Sens Environ,
112
(1):
107-117
[10.1016/j.rse.2006.09.036]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2012.
"The Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for the Derivation of Range and Range Distributions from Laser Pulse Waveform Analysis for Surface Elevations, Roughness, Slope, and Vegetation Heights.",
NASA/TM-2012-208641/Vol 7,134 pp[Full Text]
[Report]
1990.
"Geoscience laser ranging system: Estimated accuracy of geodetic parameters and their dependence on system characteristics.",
Journal of Geophysical Research,
95
(B12):
19811
[10.1029/jb095ib12p19811]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2016.
"Characterizing leaf area index (LAI) and vertical foliage profile (VFP) over the United States.",
Biogeosciences,
13
(1):
239-252
[10.5194/bg-13-239-2016]
[Journal Article/Letter]