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NASA's Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) carries a photon-counting laser altimeter that allows scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and more in unprecedented detail.

ICESat-2 helps researchers better understand Earth's cryosphere and how a warming climate is effecting change. The platform also measures heights across Earth's temperate and tropical regions, and takes stock of the vegetation in forests worldwide.

Learn more about ICESat-2/ATLAS near real-time data provided by NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE).

Learn more about ICESAT-2

Type

Earth Observation Satellite

Data Center

NSIDC DAAC

Launch

Sept. 15, 2018

Objective

Measure the elevation of ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice

ICESat-2 carries the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), which sends pulses of laser light to the ground, collects the returning photons in a telescope, and records the photon travel time.

Related Platforms

ICESat

NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) provided multi-year ice sheet elevation measurements from 2003 to 2009.

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