NASA data detail topography across the land surface, ocean, cryosphere, terrestrial hydrosphere and within the context of climate change. Our datasets and tools help researchers translate these interconnected data points into actionable knowledge.
Topography Data Access and Tools
Topography Datasets
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platform | Instrument | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEDI L2B Canopy Cover and Vertical Profile Metrics Data Global Footprint Level V001 | 001 | ISS | GEDI | 2019-04-18 to 2020-09-03 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
25 Meters x 25 Meters | HDF5 |
| GEDI L2B Canopy Cover and Vertical Profile Metrics Data Global Footprint Level V002 | 002 | ISS | GEDI | 2019-04-04 to 2023-03-16, 2024-04-26 to 2025-07-10 |
N: 54 S: -54 E: 180 W: -180 |
25 Meters x 25 Meters | HDF5 |
| GEDI L3 Gridded Land Surface Metrics, Version 1 | 1 | MODELS, ISS | Computer, GEDI | 2019-04-18 to 2020-04-15 |
N: 52 S: -52 E: 180 W: -180 |
binary | |
| GEDI L3 Gridded Land Surface Metrics, Version 2 | 2 | ISS, MODELS | GEDI, Computer | 2019-04-18 to 2025-07-09 |
N: 52 S: -52 E: 180 W: -180 |
multiple | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Backscatter Data (HDF5) V033 | 033 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | HDF |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Backscatter Data V018 | 18 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-01-13 to 2010-01-13 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Backscatter Data V033 | 033 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | Binary |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data (HDF5) V033 | 033 | ICESat | GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data (HDF5) V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | HDF5 |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data V018 | 18 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-01-13 to 2010-01-13 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data V033 | 033 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | Binary |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data (HDF5) V033 | 033 | ICESat | GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data (HDF5) V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | HDF |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data V018 | 18 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-01-13 to 2010-01-13 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data V033 | 033 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | Binary |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data (HDF5) V033 | 033 | ICESat | GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF | |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data (HDF5) V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | HDF |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data V018 | 18 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-01-13 to 2010-01-13 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data V033 | 033 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
Binary | |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data V034 | 034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, GLAS | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 |
N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 |
60 Meters to 70 Meters x 60 Meters to 70 Meters | Binary |
| G-LiHT Aerial Orthomosaic V001 | 001 | G-LiHT | Headwall, Riegl Airborne Lidar | 2017-02-21 to Present |
N: 73 S: 10 E: -50 W: -170 |
0.02 Meters x 0.02 Meters | GeoTIFF |
| G-LiHT Canopy Height Model KML V001 | 001 | G-LiHT | Headwall, Riegl Airborne Lidar | 2011-06-30 to Present |
N: 73 S: 10 E: -50 W: -170 |
1 Meters x 1 Meters | KML |
| G-LiHT Canopy Height Model V001 | 001 | G-LiHT | Headwall, Riegl Airborne Lidar | 2011-06-30 to Present |
N: 73 S: 10 E: -50 W: -170 |
1 Meters x 1 Meters | GeoTIFF |
Topography Featured Observation Method: ICESat-2
NASA's Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) allows scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and land across Earth's temperate and tropical regions, as well as take stock of the vegetation in forests worldwide. ICESat-2 carries the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), which sends 10,000 pulses of laser light to the ground per second and then measures how long it takes them be reflected back by the surface to determine the area's elevation. Learn more about ICESat-2/ATLAS near real-time data provided by NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE). 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.
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