In less time than it took you to read this sentence, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument, a lidar instrument flying on the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) platform, sent out 10,000 pulses of light towards Earth. Due to its exceptional precision, the lidar signal provides shallow, near-shore bathymetric data for a range of applications, including coastal and marine science management, nearshore habitat research, marine navigation, and engineering applications. For example, shipping and navigation organizations can use the data to support safe navigation through accurate depth mapping. ATLAS’ green wavelengths can reach depths of up to 40 meters in regions with adequate water clarity.
NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training program (ARSET) is offering a two-part live online training on December 2 and 4, 2025, that will expand users’ knowledge of the ICESat-2 mission; the ATL24 data product; and how to access, plot, and analyze ICESat-2 bathymetry data.
This training is offered in collaboration with:
- Aimee Neeley, ICESat-2 Mission Applications Lead
- Christopher Parrish, Oregon State University
- Lori Magruder, University of Texas at Austin
- Mikala Beig, National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC)
- Joseph-Paul Swinski, Goddard Space Flight Center
- Gretchen Imahori, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Keana Kief, Oregon State University
The no-cost training is open to the public and recommended for remote sensing scientists and geospatial analysts; academics; and public or private organizations that use satellite altimetry for bathymetric applications. Learn more about this training and how to register.