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Topography Data Access and Tools
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 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.
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.
Data from NASA’s ICESat-2 mission provide incredibly accurate measurements of Earth elevation change—and much more.
8 MIN READ
The five new datasets are the result of a joint effort by NASA’s Satellite Needs Working Group Management Office (SNWG MO), ICESat-2 team, and Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE).
3 MIN READ
This is the first in a four-part webinar series to introduce NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation-2 (ICESat-2) platform and the platform's data, tools, and applications.
This ACCESS 2015 project focused on OpenAltimetry, a cloud-ready web-based application for discovery, access, and visualization of ICESat and ICESat-2 data.
Topography Datasets
| Dataset | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Location Keywords | Spatial Extent | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Vegetation Plots, Poplars, Arctic and Interior AK and YT, Canada, 2003-2005 | FIELD SURVEYS | VISUAL OBSERVATIONS | 2003-06-18 to 2005-08-17 | N: 69.4718 S: 61.076 E: -135.222 W: -162.741 | CSV | |
| ASTER Digital Elevation Model V003 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-03-06 to Present | GLOBAL LAND | N: 83 S: -83 E: 180 W: -180 | GeoTIFF |
| ASTER Digital Elevation Model V004 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-03-06 to Present | GLOBAL LAND | N: 83 S: -83 E: 180 W: -180 | COG |
| ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V002 | Terra | ASTER | 1999-12-18 to 2011-02-28 | GLOBAL LAND | N: 82 S: -83 E: 180 W: -180 | GeoTIFF |
| ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-03-01 to 2013-11-30 | GLOBAL LAND | N: 82 S: -83 E: 180 W: -180 | COG |
| ASTER Global Emissivity Dataset 1 kilometer Binary | Terra | ASTER | 2000-04-04 to 2008-12-31 | GLOBAL | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | Binary |
| ASTER Global Emissivity Dataset 100 meter Binary | Terra | ASTER | 2000-04-01 to 2008-12-31 | GLOBAL | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | Binary |
| ASTER Global Emissivity Dataset, 1 kilometer, HDF5 V003 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-01-01 to 2008-12-31 | GLOBAL | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF5 |
| ASTER Global Emissivity Dataset, 100 meter, HDF5 V003 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-01-01 to 2008-12-31 | GLOBAL | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF5 |
| ASTER Global Emissivity Dataset, Monthly, 0.05 deg, HDF5 | Terra | ASTER | 2000-03-01 to 2015-12-31 | GLOBAL | N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 | HDF5 |
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