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ICESat-2: Instrument

ICESat-2: Instrument

The sole instrument on ICESat-2 will be the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS). The ATLAS laser will emit visible laser pulses at 532 nm wavelength.

The laser is developed and built by Fibertek Inc. As ICESat-2 orbits, ATLAS will:

• Create 3 pairs of tracks, with 3.3 km between pairs
• Fire at a rate of 10 kHz.

Instrument Design

In contrast to the ICESat design, ICESat-2 will use a micro-pulse multi-beam approach. This provides dense cross-track sampling to resolve surface slope on an orbit basis.

The sensor will have a high pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz (exact number still TBD) which generates dense along-track sampling of about 70 cm.

This concept has advantages over ICESat of improved elevation estimates over high slope areas and very rough (e.g. crevassed) areas and improved lead detection for sea ice freeboard estimates.