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Terrain Elevation Data Access and Tools
NASA's data include global radar measurements from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and ongoing interferograms generated from European Sentinel-1 satellite scans. Our datasets and tools help researchers translate these interconnected data points into actionable knowledge.
Terrain Elevation Datasets
| Dataset | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Location Keywords | Spatial Extent | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Elevation Data (HDF5) V034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 | GLOBAL | N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF5 |
| GLAS/ICESat L1B Global Waveform-based Range Corrections Data (HDF5) V034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 | GLOBAL | N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF |
| GLAS/ICESat L2 Global Land Surface Altimetry Data (HDF5) V034 | ICESat | ALTIMETERS, CD, GLAS, GPS, GPS Receiver, LA, PC | 2003-02-20 to 2009-10-11 | GLOBAL | N: 86 S: -86 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF |
| Global 1-km Gridded Thickness of Soil, Regolith, and Sedimentary Deposit Layers | DEM | HYDROMETERS | 1900-01-01 to 2015-12-31 | N: 90 S: -60 E: 180 W: -180 | GeoTIFF | |
| Global Forest Ecosystem Structure and Function Data For Carbon Balance Research | NOAA-14 | AVHRR | 1897-01-01 to 2006-12-31 | N: 67.36 S: -42.87 E: 172.75 W: -159.5 | Shapefile | |
| Global Soil Profile Data (ISRIC-WISE) | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1950-01-01 to 1995-12-31 | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | multiple | |
| GPM Ground Validation Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) OLYMPEX V1 | UND CITATION II | LIDAR, VISIBLE SPECTROMETER | 2014-09-04 to 2016-03-30 | WASHINGTON | N: 48.0909 S: 47.493 E: -123.129 W: -124.185 | GeoTIFF |
| High Mountain Asia 2 m DEM, Surface Velocity, and Lagrangian Surface Mass Balance for Select Debris Covered Glaciers V001 | GEOEYE-1, WORLDVIEW-1, WORLDVIEW-2, WORLDVIEW-3 | GIS, WV60, WV110 | 2012-12-23 to 2017-12-22 | NEPAL | N: 28.39 S: 28.2 E: 85.77 W: 85.51 | GeoTIFF |
| High Mountain Asia 8-meter DEM Mosaics Derived from Optical Imagery V001 | GEOEYE-1, QUICKBIRD-2, WORLDVIEW-1, WORLDVIEW-2, WORLDVIEW-3 | CAMERAS, QUICKBIRD/BHRC-60 | 2002-01-28 to 2016-11-24 | HIMALAYAS | N: 46 S: 26 E: 103 W: 67 | PNG, GeoTIFF |
| High Mountain Asia 8-meter DEMs Derived from Along-track Optical Imagery V001 | GEOEYE-1, QUICKBIRD-2, WORLDVIEW-1, WORLDVIEW-2, WORLDVIEW-3 | CAMERAS, QUICKBIRD/BHRC-60 | 2002-01-28 to 2016-11-24 | HIMALAYAS | N: 46 S: 26 E: 103 W: 67 | PNG, GeoTIFF |
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Featured Terrain Elevation Observation Method: ASTER
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a high spatial resolution instrument aboard the Terra satellite. ASTER provides a Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) of Earth's land surface at approximately 30-meter spatial resolution.
Version 3 of the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) provides new features and sharper imagery.
These products are available globally at their full resolution of 30 meters per pixel.
As of 1 April 2016, all Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data products are available at no charge from LP DAAC.
Looking for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data? Learn how to discover, access and manipulate SAR data with the newly revamped NASA ASF DAAC Vertex tool. We'll showcase common data access methods and some of the advanced features of this data discovery and data access tool.
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