ESA    Life in Space    Expanding Frontiers    Improving Daily Life    Protecting the Environment    Benefits for Europe  
   
Media Centre
Press ReleasesESA TelevisionLaunch Media CornerExhibitions
Services
CalendarPublicationsFrequently asked questionsESA-sponsored ConferencesHelpSite CreditsPortal terms of useCommentsSubscribe
 
 
 
Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 
Scientists receive first CryoSat-2 data
 
20 July 2010

Profile of Greenland ice sheet
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 219 kb)
Profile of the Greenland ice sheet acquired by CryoSat-2. The profile shows an estimate of ice-sheet elevation and variability of surface characteristics (colour-coded returned echo power levels) across a 2500 km transect from south to north.

Credits: ESA
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES MP4 (Size: 3 700 kb)
CryoSat determines variations in the thickness of floating sea-ice so that seasonal and interannual variations can be detected. The satellite also surveys the surface of continental ice sheets to detect small elevation changes. Information on precise variations in ice thickness will further our understanding of the relationship between ice and climate change.

Credits: ESA /AOES Medialab
 
 
Profile of Arctic sea ice
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 140 kb)
Profile Arctic sea-ice acquired by CryoSat-2. The profile shows complex characteristics of radar echoes acquired over sea ice and open water ‘leads’ across a 150 km transect of the Arctic Ocean previously unseen by radar altimeter.

Credits: ESA
 
 
Taking ground measurements of ice
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 332 kb)
Taking in situ measurements of ice and snow are an essential part of the calibration and validation programme for the CryoSat mission. Here a neutron probe is lowered into a hole drilled in the ice. It collects essential data on snow and ice density layering to help understand the radar signals from the satellite and ultimately transform the height measurements into net change in ice mass, the main goal of CryoSat.

Credits: Norwegian Polar Institute
 
 
CryoSatESA's ice mission
Related news
CryoSat-2 exceeding expectationsPolar scientists herald importance of satellite observationsESA's CryoSat-2 and NASA's DC-8 star in Arctic cooperationESA's ice mission delivers first dataSuccessful launch for ESA’s CryoSat-2 ice satellite
In depth
CryoSat-2Campaigns
ESA on Youtube
ESA's ice mission Space for our climate
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2011 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.