ICESat First Light Release: Antarctica, from Coast to Coast

  • Released Friday, May 23, 2003
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ICESat's first topographic profiles across the continent reveal the textured surfaces of Antarctic ice sheets in unprecedented detail. The following profile spans the entire Antarctic continent from coast to coast. The transect begins near Wrigley Gulf, crosses the Ross Ice Shelf and central Antarctica, finally tapering off at the Amery Ice Shelf. The high flat area in the center of the continent is called the East Antarctic plateau.

Animation showing an ICESat elevation data pass (in green) starting near Wrigley Gulf, passing over the East Antarctic plateau, ending near the Amery Ice Shelf.

A slice of ICESat elevation data (170 meter post-spaced) near the Amery coast laying over a flat RADARSAT texture.

A slice of ICESat elevation data (170 meter post-spaced) near the Amery coast laying over a flat RADARSAT texture.

A birds eye view of the Antarctic continent surrounded by sea ice.

A birds eye view of the Antarctic continent surrounded by sea ice.

A slice of (green) elevation data passing over Lambert Glacier.

A slice of (green) elevation data passing over Lambert Glacier.

Another slice of elevation data near the Ross Ice Shelf.

Another slice of elevation data near the Ross Ice Shelf.

A slice of elevation data near the Wrigley Gulf coastline.

A slice of elevation data near the Wrigley Gulf coastline.

Video slate image reads "Antarctica, from Coast to CoastICESat's first topographic profiles across the continent reveal the textured surfaces of Antarctic ice sheets in unprecedented detail. The following profile spans the entire Antarctic continent from coast to coast. The transect begins near Wrigley Gulf, crosses the Ross Ice Shelf and central Antarctica, finally tapering off at the Amery Ice Shelf. The high flat area in the center of the continent is called the East Antarctic plateau."

Video slate image reads "Antarctica, from Coast to Coast

ICESat's first topographic profiles across the continent reveal the textured surfaces of Antarctic ice sheets in unprecedented detail. The following profile spans the entire Antarctic continent from coast to coast. The transect begins near Wrigley Gulf, crosses the Ross Ice Shelf and central Antarctica, finally tapering off at the Amery Ice Shelf. The high flat area in the center of the continent is called the East Antarctic plateau."

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Scientific Visualization Studio, Canadian Space Agency, RADARSAT International Inc.

This page was originally published on Friday, May 23, 2003.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:57 PM EDT.

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