ICESat-2 Laser Impulse Response from Salar de Uyuni

Linear impulse response data describes the shape of the ATLAS lidar laser pulse after reflecting from a flat surface. This ancillary dataset was created by NSIDC using ATL02 photon data measured over the Salar de Uyuni salt flat and was last updated in June 2025.

Use Cases

• Model subsurface scattering by analyzing the time-of-flight impulse response shape.
• Remove instrument after-pulse effects from surface return data using the measured impulse response.
• Calibrate ATLAS instrument performance by comparing observed pulse shape against theoretical models.

Strengths

• Data is derived from the ATL02 photon data product of the ICESat-2 mission.
• Provides a measured instrument response over a known flat calibration site (Salar de Uyuni).

Limitations

• Specific sample size, temporal coverage, and geographic scope beyond the Salar de Uyuni site are unknown.
• Data utility is specialized for instrument correction and scattering models, limiting general applications.

Provenance

Source

NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

Collection Method

Measured using ATL02 photon data from the ATLAS instrument on ICESat-2.

Freshness

Updated as of June 2025.

Geography

Salar de Uyuni salt flat.