Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors
The Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), an Earth-observing laser altimetry mission, is currently providing global elevation measurements. Geolocation validation confirms the altimeter’s ability to accurately position the measurement on the surface of the Earth and provides insight...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1820496105cb4eb79004ec6e93bb9770 2023-05-15T14:02:36+02:00 Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors Lori A. Magruder Kelly M. Brunt Michael Alonzo 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213653 https://doaj.org/article/1820496105cb4eb79004ec6e93bb9770 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/21/3653 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs12213653 2072-4292 https://doaj.org/article/1820496105cb4eb79004ec6e93bb9770 Remote Sensing, Vol 12, Iss 3653, p 3653 (2020) ICESat-2 ATLAS geolocation laser altimetry Science Q article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213653 2022-12-31T15:35:40Z The Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), an Earth-observing laser altimetry mission, is currently providing global elevation measurements. Geolocation validation confirms the altimeter’s ability to accurately position the measurement on the surface of the Earth and provides insight into the fidelity of the geolocation determination process. Surfaces well characterized by independent methods are well suited to provide a measure of the ICESat-2 geolocation accuracy through statistical comparison. This study compares airborne lidar data with the ICESat-2 along-track geolocated photon data product to determine the horizontal geolocation accuracy by minimizing the vertical residuals between datasets. At the same location arrays of corner cube retro-reflectors (CCRs) provide unique signal signatures back to the satellite from their known positions to give a deterministic solution of the laser footprint diameter and the geolocation accuracy for those cases where two or more CCRs were illuminated within one ICESat-2 transect. This passive method for diameter recovery and geolocation accuracy assessment is implemented at two locations: White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico and along the 88°S latitude line in Antarctica. This early on-orbit study provides results as a proof of concept for this passive validation technique. For the cases studied the diameter value ranged from 10.6 to 12 m. The variability is attributed to the statistical nature of photon-counting lidar technology and potentially, variations in the atmospheric conditions that impact signal transmission. The geolocation accuracy results from the CCR technique and airborne lidar comparisons are within the mission requirement of 6.5 m. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Remote Sensing 12 21 3653 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
ICESat-2 ATLAS geolocation laser altimetry Science Q |
spellingShingle |
ICESat-2 ATLAS geolocation laser altimetry Science Q Lori A. Magruder Kelly M. Brunt Michael Alonzo Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
topic_facet |
ICESat-2 ATLAS geolocation laser altimetry Science Q |
description |
The Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), an Earth-observing laser altimetry mission, is currently providing global elevation measurements. Geolocation validation confirms the altimeter’s ability to accurately position the measurement on the surface of the Earth and provides insight into the fidelity of the geolocation determination process. Surfaces well characterized by independent methods are well suited to provide a measure of the ICESat-2 geolocation accuracy through statistical comparison. This study compares airborne lidar data with the ICESat-2 along-track geolocated photon data product to determine the horizontal geolocation accuracy by minimizing the vertical residuals between datasets. At the same location arrays of corner cube retro-reflectors (CCRs) provide unique signal signatures back to the satellite from their known positions to give a deterministic solution of the laser footprint diameter and the geolocation accuracy for those cases where two or more CCRs were illuminated within one ICESat-2 transect. This passive method for diameter recovery and geolocation accuracy assessment is implemented at two locations: White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico and along the 88°S latitude line in Antarctica. This early on-orbit study provides results as a proof of concept for this passive validation technique. For the cases studied the diameter value ranged from 10.6 to 12 m. The variability is attributed to the statistical nature of photon-counting lidar technology and potentially, variations in the atmospheric conditions that impact signal transmission. The geolocation accuracy results from the CCR technique and airborne lidar comparisons are within the mission requirement of 6.5 m. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lori A. Magruder Kelly M. Brunt Michael Alonzo |
author_facet |
Lori A. Magruder Kelly M. Brunt Michael Alonzo |
author_sort |
Lori A. Magruder |
title |
Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
title_short |
Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
title_full |
Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
title_fullStr |
Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
title_full_unstemmed |
Early ICESat-2 on-orbit Geolocation Validation Using Ground-Based Corner Cube Retro-Reflectors |
title_sort |
early icesat-2 on-orbit geolocation validation using ground-based corner cube retro-reflectors |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213653 https://doaj.org/article/1820496105cb4eb79004ec6e93bb9770 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
Remote Sensing, Vol 12, Iss 3653, p 3653 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/21/3653 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs12213653 2072-4292 https://doaj.org/article/1820496105cb4eb79004ec6e93bb9770 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213653 |
container_title |
Remote Sensing |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
21 |
container_start_page |
3653 |
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1766272917944926208 |