Greenland Ice Sheet SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map

Greenland's ice sheet is mapped in a combined dataset featuring a detailed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image mosaic and a digital elevation model. The SAR mosaic, derived from ERS-1 satellite swaths acquired in August 1992, shows surface melt features like ice lenses, meltwater channels, and the ice edge. This dataset was assembled by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center to serve as a reference baseline for detecting future changes in the ice sheet.

Use Cases

• Detecting shifts in the ice margin and hydrologic zones by analyzing the SAR mosaic for changes in surface scatterers.
• Modeling ice sheet topography and elevation changes using the compiled digital elevation model data.
• Identifying melt-related features such as ice lenses, surface meltwater streams, and ice-marginal lakes from the radar imagery.
• Establishing a 1992 baseline for comparative studies of Greenland's cryospheric response to climatic variation.

Strengths

• Combines the most detailed SAR mosaic available for Greenland in 1992 with the best contemporary digital elevation model.
• Elevation data was compiled from multiple authoritative sources including field surveys, aerial photographs, and ERS-1 radar altimetry.
• Provides a spatially complete characterization of surface melt features and ice edge location for the entire ice sheet.

Limitations

• Source platforms conflict on the last updated date, with one listing 1995-12-31 and another listing 2026-03-13 for metadata.
• Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided by any source platform.
• The underlying SAR component images are copyrighted by the European Space Agency, restricting redistribution.

Provenance

Source

European Space Agency (ERS-1 SAR images), Kort-og Matrikelstyrelsen (elevation data), NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center (mosaic assembly).

Collection Method

SAR image swaths acquired by satellite in August 1992, mosaicked and combined with elevation data compiled from field surveys, aerial photos, and radar altimetry.

Time Range

1992-08

Freshness

1995-12-31 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Greenland Ice Sheet