The Atmospheric Measurements of ICESat-2: Scientific Applications and an Aide to Mission Success

Abstract:

Carrying the Advanced Topographic Lidar Altimeter System (ATLAS), ICESat-2 is scheduled for launch in 2017. Though the primary science objective of the 3 year mission is the high resolution altimetry mapping of the Earth’s major ice sheets, ATLAS will also acquire atmospheric backscatter profiles from the 3 strong 532 nm laser beams (ATLAS utilizes 6 beams in total). The main intent of the atmospheric channel is to characterize the atmosphere to aide in the interpretation and filtering of altimetry data, as clouds, fog and blowing snow can adversely affect the ranging accuracy due to signal attenuation and multiple scattering. But aside from their use as an aide to altimetry, the ATLAS atmospheric data have potential scientific uses in their own right such as Global and especially polar cloud studies, aerosol sources and transport and blowing snow over the polar regions. This presentation will discuss the characteristics of the ATLAS atmospheric data, the planned atmospheric data products and their potential for contributing to atmospheric science and the success of the ICESat-2 mission.