The Geoscience Laser Altimetry/Ranging System

The Geoscience Laser Altimetry/Ranging System (GLARS) is a planned highly precise laser distance-measuring system to be used for geoscience measurements requiring extremely accurate geodetic observations from a space platform. The system combines the attributes of a pointable laser ranging system making observations to retroreflectors placed on the ground with those of a nadir-looking laser altimeter making height observations to ground, ice sheet, and oceanic surfaces. In the ranging mode, centimeter-level precise baseline and station coordinate determinations will be made on grids consisting of 100 to 200 targets separated by distances from a few tens of kilometers to about 1000 km. These measurements will be used for studies of seismic zone crustal deformations and tectonic plate motions. Ranging measurements will also be made to a coarser, but globally distributed, array of retroreflectors for both precise geodetic and orbit determination applications. In the altimetric mode, relative height determinations will be obtained with approximately decimeter vertical precision and 70-100-m horizontal resolution. Altimetric profiles consisting of nearly contiguous spots will be available when the system is operated at 40 pulses per second. The height data will be used to study surface topography and roughness, ice sheet and lava flow thickness, and ocean dynamics. Waveform digitization will provide a measure of the vertical extent of topography within each footprint.

[1]  John Degnan,et al.  Satellite Laser Ranging: Current Status and Future Prospects , 1985, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[2]  James Abshire,et al.  Atmospheric Refractivity Corrections in Satellite Laser Ranging , 1985, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[3]  David E. Smith,et al.  Performance analysis of the spaceborne laser ranging system , 1979 .

[4]  Francis J. Lerch,et al.  A refined gravity model from Lageos /GEM-L2/ , 1982 .

[5]  I. I. Mueller,et al.  Detection of crustal motion using spaceborne laser ranging systems , 1978 .

[6]  W. Peltier.  Constraint on deep mantle viscosity from Lageos acceleration data , 1983, Nature.

[7]  R. Thomas,et al.  Satellite remote sensing for ice sheet research , 1985 .

[8]  M. Kramer,et al.  Crustal deformation, the earthquake cycle, and models of viscoelastic flow in the asthenosphere , 1984 .

[9]  P. Argentiero,et al.  Spaceborne earth applications ranging system /SPEAR/ , 1977 .

[10]  John E. Robinson,et al.  Satellite Laser Altimeter for Measurement of Ice Sheet Topography , 1982, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[11]  M. Lefebvre,et al.  Science opportunities from the Topex/Poseidon mission , 1986 .

[12]  G. Balmino,et al.  GRIM gravity model improvement using LAGEOS (GRIM3‐L1) , 1985 .

[13]  D. Rubincam.  Postglacial rebound observed by lageos and the effective viscosity of the lower mantle , 1984 .

[14]  David L. White,et al.  Laboratory Test Results Of The High Speed Optical Tracking System For The Spaceborne Geodynamic Ranging System , 1987, Other Conferences.

[15]  Steven C. Cohen.  Geophysical interpretation of satellite laser ranging measurements of crustal movement in California , 1985 .

[16]  F. X. Kneizys,et al.  Atmospheric Transmittance/Radiance: Computer Code LOWTRAN 6. Supplement: Program Listings , 1983 .

[17]  P. Melchior,et al.  The Earth's variable rotation, geophysical causes and consequences , 1981 .

[18]  Steven M. Klosko,et al.  Observing tectonic plate motions and deformations from satellite laser ranging , 1985 .

[19]  David E. Smith,et al.  LAGEOS Scientific Results: Introduction , 1985 .

[20]  Bob E. Schutz,et al.  Station coordinates, baselines, and Earth rotation from LAGEOS laser ranging: 1976–1984 , 1985 .

[21]  Harold W. O'Brien,et al.  Red and near-infrared spectral reflectance of snow , 1972 .

[22]  David E. Smith,et al.  A global geodetic reference frame from LAGEOS ranging (SL5.1AP) , 1985 .

[23]  J. C. Savage.  STRAIN ACCUMULATION IN WESTERN UNITED STATES , 1983 .