2026-08-28T06:24:45Zhttp://nsidc.org/api/dataset/metadata/oaioai:nsidc.org/NSIDC-0052.0012026-03-03T21:04:00Zv0_daacv0_allnasa_nsidc_daac
NSIDC-0052.001Digital SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map of the Greenland Ice SheetFahnestock, M., Ekholm, S., Knowles, K., Kwok, R. & Scambos, T.Digital SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map of the Greenland Ice Sheet1997-01-01Boulder, Colorado USANASA NSIDC DAAC: NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center1false10.5067/WZMPK0L17X7Nhttps://nsidc.org/sites/default/files/nsidc-0052-v001-userguide.pdfNSIDC-0052Technical ContactNSIDCUser Servicesnsidc@nsidc.org1-303-492-61991-303-492-2468CIRES, 449 UCBUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCO80309-0449USAInvestigatorMarkFahnestockmark.fahnestock@unh.edu1-603-862-0322University of New Hampshire39 College RoadDurhamNH03824-3525USAInvestigatorSimonEkholmKort-og Matrikelstyrelsen(KMS, National Survey and Cadastre)CopenhagenDenmarkInvestigatorKennethKnowlesNational Snow and Ice Data CenterCIRES, 449 UCBUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCO80309-0449USAInvestigatorRonKwokJet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSAInvestigatorTedScambosscambos@nsidc.orgNational Snow and Ice Data CenterCIRES, 449 UCBBoulderCO80309-0449USAInvestigatorMikeMeshekNational Snow and Ice Data CenterCIRES, 449 UCBUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCO80309-0449USAEARTH SCIENCECRYOSPHEREGLACIERS/ICE SHEETSGLACIER ELEVATION/ICE SHEET ELEVATION EARTH SCIENCECRYOSPHEREGLACIERS/ICE SHEETSGLACIER TOPOGRAPHY/ICE SHEET TOPOGRAPHY EARTH SCIENCECRYOSPHERESEA ICEICE EDGES EARTH SCIENCECRYOSPHEREGLACIERS/ICE SHEETSICE SHEETS EARTH SCIENCESPECTRAL/ENGINEERINGRADARRADAR BACKSCATTER EARTH SCIENCESPECTRAL/ENGINEERINGRADARRADAR CROSS-SECTION EARTH SCIENCESPECTRAL/ENGINEERINGRADARRADAR IMAGERY EARTH SCIENCESPECTRAL/ENGINEERINGRADARRADAR REFLECTIVITY EARTH SCIENCESPECTRAL/ENGINEERINGRADARRETURN POWER ElevationGeoscientific InformationImagery/Base Maps/Earth CoverInland WatersDEMs Greenland-projectDEMs-projectRADAR ALTIMETERSSARSynthetic Aperture RadarERS-1European Remote Sensing Satellite-1GEOSATGeodetic Satellite1992-08-021992-09-091991-01-011995-12-31complete6084-73-100 meters3251.4 metersContinentNorth AmericaGreenland100 m100 m2 km2 km13 mThe accuracy and precision of the DEM is not adequate for the detection of real ice surface elevation changes over time, and thus the DEM should not be used for such purposes. Additional processing would be necessary before the DEM could be used as part of a scheme for elevation change detection.These data are freely, openly, and fully accessible, provided that you are logged into your NASA Earthdata profile (https://urs.earthdata.nasa.gov/).These data are freely, openly, and fully available to use without restrictions, provided that you cite the data according to the recommended citation at https://nsidc.org/about/use_copyright.html. For more information on the NASA EOSDIS Data Use Policy, see https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/data-use-policy.EnglishNSIDCNASA NSIDC DAACNASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Centerhttps://nsidc.org/daacData Center ContactNSIDCUser Servicesnsidc@nsidc.org1-303-492-6199National Snow and Ice Data CenterCIRES, 449 UCBUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCO80309-0449USAHTTPSBinaryAndersen, Ole Baltazar. 1994. ERS-1 altimetry on the Greenland ice sheet: Preliminary investigations of annual variations. Geophysical Research Letters 21(15):1655-1658.
Binschadler, R. A., and P. L. Vornberger. 1993. Interpretation of SAR imagery of the Greenland ice sheet using coregistered TM imagery. Remote Sensing of Environment 167-175.
Ekholm, S. 1996. A full coverage, high-resolution topographic model of Greenland computed from a variety of digital elevation data. Journal of Geophysical Research 101(B10):21961-21972.
Ekholm, S., R. Forsberg, and J. M. Brozena. 1995. Accuracy of satellite altimeter elevations over the Greenland ice sheet. Journal of Geophysical Research 100(C2):2687-2696.
Fahnestock, M. A., and R. A. Bindschadler. 1993. Description of a program for SAR investigation of the Greenland ice sheet and an example of margin change detection using SAR. Annals of Glaciology 39(131): 119-132.
Fahnestock, M., R. Bindschadler, R. Kwok, and K. Jezek. 1993. Greenland ice sheet surface properties and ice dynamics from ERS-1 SAR imagery. Science 262:1530-1534.
Fahnestock, M., R. Bindschadler, R. Kwok, and K. Jezek. 1993. Greenland ice sheet surface properties and ice dynamics from ERS-1 SAR imagery.Science 262: 1525-1530.
Jezek, K. C., and S. Grace. 1991. Synthetic Aperture Radar observations of the Greenland ice sheet. EOS Suppl., p. 150.
Jezek, K. C. 1992. Spatial patterns in radar backscatter strength across the Greenland ice sheet. EOS Suppl., p. 181.
Jezek, K. C., and S. P. Gogineni. 1992. Microwave remote sensing of the Greenland ice sheet. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Newsletter 9:6-10.
Jezek, K. C., M. R. Drinkwater, J. P. Crawford, R. Bindschadler, and R. Kwok. 1993. Analysis of Synthetic Aperture Radar data collected over the southwestern Greenland ice sheet. Journal of Glaciology 39(131): 115-132.
Jezek, K. C., P. Gogineni, and M. Chanableh. 1994. Radar measurements of melt zones on the Greenland ice sheet. Geophysical Research Letters 21(1): 33-36.
Knowles, K. 1992. Points, Pixels, Grids, and Cells: A Mapping and Gridding Primer. Unpublished report to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, CO.
Rignot, E. J., S. J. Austria, J. J. V. Zyl, and K. C. Jezek. 1993. Unusual radar echoes from the Greenland ice sheet. Science 261:1710-1713.
Rignot, E., J. V. Zyl, S. Ostro, and K. C. Jezek. 1993. Unusual radar echoes from the percolation zone of the Greenland ice sheet. EOS Suppl., p. 247.
Rignot, E. 1995. Backscatter model for the unusual radar properties of the Greenland ice sheet. Journal of Geophysical Research 100(E5): 9389-9400.
Simonett, D. S., F. T. Ulaby, J. E. Estes, and G. A. Thorley, eds. 1983. Manual of remote sensing, Falls Church, Virginia: American Society of Photogrammetry.
Vornberger, P. L., and R. A. Bindschadler. 1992. Multi-spectral analysis of ice sheets using co-registered SAR and TM imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing 13(4): 637-645.
Zwally, R. A. Bindschadler, A. C. Brenner, and R. H. Thomas. 1983. Surface elevation contours of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Journal of Geophysical Research 88: 1589-1596.The Digital SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map of the Greenland Ice Sheet combines the most detailed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image mosaic available with the best current digital elevation model. The mosaic image shows both the location of the ice edge and the distribution of melt-related 'scatterers' on the surface. These scatterers include ice lenses and complex layered structure in the percolation zone and bare ice of the ablation zone. Other melt-related features that can be seen include lake and surface meltwater stream channels at lower elevations, as well as ice-marginal lakes.
This characterization of the ice sheet provides a reference against which future change can be measured. Changing conditions resulting from climatic variation should show up as changes in the ice margin and shifts in the hydrologic zones. It is hoped that the standard reference provided by this data set can facilitate activities aimed at change detection and promote other work aimed at understanding the processes operating on the ice sheet.
The image data are derived from SAR image swaths acquired by the ERS-1 satellite during August of 1992. The mosaic was assembled at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Its component images are a copyrighted product of the European Space Agency. The mosaic, a value-added derived product, is available to individuals and non-profit organizations for research oriented purposes only. The Danish geodetic and cadastral agency Kort-og Matrikelstyrelsen (KMS) compiled the elevation data provided with the product from a number of sources, including field surveys, aerial photographs, and the ERS-1 radar altimeter.VIEW RELATED INFORMATIONhttps://nsidc.org/sites/default/files/nsidc-0052-v001-userguide.pdfDigital SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map of the Greenland Ice Sheet, Version 1 User GuideGET DATAhttps://daacdata.apps.nsidc.org/DATASETS/nsidc0052_sar_mosaic_elevation_v1/HTTPSUSA/NASACEOS IDN DIFVERSION 9.91997-01-012026-03-03NSIDCVersion SummaryNSIDCMinor VersionNSIDCCurrent Version1NSIDCLevel of ServiceBasicNSIDCFull Dataset CitationFahnestock, M., Ekholm, S., Knowles, K., Kwok, R. & Scambos, T. (1997). <i>Digital SAR Mosaic and Elevation Map of the Greenland Ice Sheet</i>. (NSIDC-0052, Version 1). [Data Set]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center. <a href="https://doi.org/10.5067/WZMPK0L17X7N">https://doi.org/10.5067/WZMPK0L17X7N</a>. [<i><describe subset used if applicable></i>].NSIDCRetiredfalseNSIDCRelated Servicesapplication/vnd.nasa.cmr.umm+jsonfalseamyygillilandmmt_service_12717S1977897447-NSIDCV0NSIDCV06service2025-04-01T22:12:52.112Zhttps://daacdata.apps.nsidc.org/NSIDCV0_DAAC_Data_HTTPS_File_SystemNOT PROVIDED1HTTPS File SystemQuickly download a few files using a web browser, or access the data through a command-line utility such as WGET.https://nsidc.org/data/user-resources/help-center/programmatic-access-guide-data-daacdataappsVIEW RELATED INFORMATIONProgrammatic Data Access GuidePublicationURLUSER SERVICESNSIDC DAAC User ServicesEmailnsidc@nsidc.orgDATA ACCESS/RETRIEVALDATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLINGEARTH SCIENCE SERVICESThis is the most current release of this service.DEVELOPERORIGINATORPUBLISHERSERVICE PROVIDERNASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive CenterNASA NSIDC DAACNASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) at NSIDChttps://nsidc.org/daacNSIDC DAAC Home Pagehttps://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/umm/service/v1.4UMM-S1.4https://daacdata.apps.nsidc.org/DATASETS/nsidc0052_sar_mosaic_elevation_v1/