NASA NASA
Earth Observatory Earth Observatory
Search Icon
NASA Earth Observatory

IceBridge Quick Facts

  • Instruments

  • Airborne Topographic Mapper—a laser instrument similar to ICESat used to map the topography (elevation) of the ice sheets.
  • Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS)—a laser altimeter that flies at high altitudes to map large areas of ice sheet and sea ice elevation.
  • Multichannel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS)—a radar instrument capable of seeing through the ice to map the ground below.
  • Snow Radar—A radar instrument that measures the thickness of snow on top of sea ice and glaciers.
  • Ku-Band Radar Altimeter—a radar instrument that penetrates snow to measure the elevation of the top of the ice sheet. This measurement and laser altimeter measurements will help link Cryosat and ICESat measurements of ice elevation.
  • Gravimeter—detects variations in gravity to map out the shape of the sea floor beneath floating glaciers.
  • Magnetometer—measures Earth’s magnetic field.
  • Digital Mapping System—an extremely high resolution digital camera set up to take photos throughout each flight. The photos are tagged with location and altitude information.

  • Planes

  • NASA DC-8—a jetliner modified to carry scientific instruments.
  • NASA P-3B Airborne Science Laboratory—a four-engine turbo-prop aircraft capable of 8-14 hours of flight carrying large science payloads.
  • King Air B200 Aircraft—a small twin-engine turboprop that flies at the high altitudes needed to carry the LVIS altimeter.
  • Gulfstream V—A small jet capable of flying long distances and high altitudes carrying LVIS.

Subscribe