REMA: Antarctic Elevation Models at 2m Resolution, 2009-Present

The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) provides high-resolution 2-meter digital elevation models and mosaics from 2009 to the present. The Polar Geospatial Center constructed the data from high-resolution imagery acquired by the Maxar constellation of optical imaging satellites. The dataset includes both individual strip DEMs for time-series analysis and assembled mosaic tiles for consistent coverage over large areas.

Use Cases

• Perform change detection analysis based on the time-dependent nature of the strip DEM files.
• Compare topographic observations from different seasons or years based on the time-series elevation data.
• Analyze large-area Antarctic terrain using the more consistent mosaic DEM tiles assembled from multiple strips.

Strengths

• Provides 2-meter ground sample distance (GSD) resolution.
• Offers time-series data from 2009 to the present for change detection.
• Constructed from high-resolution (~0.5 meter) satellite imagery.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Polar Geospatial Center

Collection Method

Constructed from in-track and cross-track high-resolution imagery acquired by the Maxar constellation of optical imaging satellites.

Time Range

2009 to the present

Freshness

Data is updated with new imagery, but specific last update date is unknown.

Geography

Antarctica