Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are digital files consisting of points of terrain elevations, sampled systematically at equally spaced intervals. A DEM can be represented as a raster (a grid of squares) or as a triangular irregular network. DEMs are often used in geographic information systems, and are the most common basis for digitally-produced relief maps.

NSIDC uses polar ice sheet elevation data sets to create surface elevation maps of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. The maps contribute to the study of glaciers, ice sheets, ice streams, and ice shelves. Many of the maps produced from elevation data sets are DEMs, which facilitate ice sheet mass balance investigations and tracking of long-term changes in the polar ice sheets. The NSIDC DEMs were created from a variety of instruments such as laser altimeters, radar altimeters, and synthetic aperture radar. To learn more about the NSIDC DEMs and to access the data, please visit the Polar Ice Sheet DEMs and Elevation Data Web site.