How to measure a melting planet with an inch of precision
In short: To track global sea level rise, scientists need to know if ice sheets are shrinking by mere inches. But how do you verify satellite data over thousands of miles of frozen wasteland? The answer involves a grueling, 470-mile trek across the Antarctic interior using tank-like machines and bamboo poles.
NASA's ICESat-2 mission is designed to monitor the Earth's cryosphere—the portions of our planet where water is frozen. By using fast-firing lasers, the satellite measures elevation changes in ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice. Because even small amounts of melt across vast areas like Greenland or Antarctica can significantly contribute to global sea level rise, the mission requires extreme precision: measurements must be accurate to less than an inch.
To ensure these orbital readings are correct, scientists perform 'ground-truthing.' In late 2017, researchers Kelly Brunt and Tom Neumann conducted a traverse along the 88-degree south latitude line near the South Pole. They drove PistenBullys—large, tank-like snow machines—pulling 60-foot-long sled trains containing survival gear, fuel, and scientific instruments. This expedition provided thousands of precise GPS elevation points to serve as a reference set against which satellite data can be compared.
The team utilized unique 'corner cube reflectors' to mark their path. These were made from bamboo poles with tiny pieces of glass—roughly the size of a pinkie fingernail—embedded in the caps. This specific glass is engineered to reflect green laser beams from space, allowing scientists to pinpoint exact locations. By repeating this 470-mile traverse over four years, researchers aim to create the best-surveyed piece of either ice sheet on Earth, providing a high-fidelity map of how our planet's ice is changing year over year.
This work highlights the necessity of physical exploration in the age of remote sensing. While satellites provide the scale, human-led expeditions provide the ground truth required to validate our understanding of climate change.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: #EarthDayAtHome: Science in Ice-olation with Kelly Brunt and Tom Neumann
- Also: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio | The 88-South Antarctic Traverse
- Also: NASA Scientists Traverse Antarctica to Prep for New Climate Satellite (Video)
- Also: NASA — Kelly Brunt - Ice-Sheet Researcher Who Keeps Tabs on Our Melting Planet - NASA
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