Mapping ice sheets with the altimeter

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Abstract
The most basic glaciological requirement for investigations of ice sheets and ice shelves is a measurement of surface elevation. Prior to 1978, no technique operated from the surface, aircraft or satellites had provided elevation data with sufficient accuracy and spatial temporal coverage to address continent-wide problems such as whether the Antarctic ice sheet is growing or shrinking. Although on an oceanographic mission, Seasat gave the first extensive evidence that a satellite radar altimeter can achieve high precision mapping for widespread glaciological application. In the decade since its launch, analysis of data from its brief mission has showed the capability of measuring elevations to an accuracy of up to 25 cm, mapping the outer margins of ice shelves, identifying grounding lines, profiling icebergs and providing information on surface features. Although problems such as coverage, mission continuity and special data processing still need to be addressed, Seasat demonstrated the very real contributions which future altimeters such as that to be flown ERS-1 will make to studies of the polar regions.

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