Polar Exploration with Nimbus Meteorological Satellite

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Popham, R.W., Samuelson, R.E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1965
• Subjects: Antarctic; Canada; Greenland; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Arctic; glacier; glacier*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.14430/arctic3474; http://arctic.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/viewFile/3474/3449

Discusses the use of photographs from spacecraft to determine various kinds of features, based on experiences with Nimbus I during Aug-Sept 1964. Advanced Vidicon Camera System photographs of sea and glacier ice in Canada, Greenland, and the Antarctic are shown; and the nature and quality of data yielded are considered. The striking pattern of sunlight and shadows resulting from low sun angle near the poles is noted, also a method for estimating heights of peaks, glacier slopes, etc from length of the shadows. Surface temperatures and snow and ice emissivities in the Antarctic were determined from High Resolution Infra-Red photographs.