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<p>This Saturday at 8:46 a.m. ET, the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2, commonly known as “ICESat-2,” will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It is set to ride atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket and will play a crucial role in monitoring ice layers at the Earth's poles using its sole instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS).</p><br />
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<p>ICESat-2 is equipped with a laser that emits six green beams at an astonishing rate of 10,000 pulses per second. Each pulse consists of trillions of photons; while only a handful will return to the satellite, those that do will enable scientists to calculate the time it takes for them to bounce back after hitting ice, terrain, trees, and more.</p><br />
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<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">These returns will be recorded every 28 inches (71 cm), yielding an immense volume of data as the satellite surveys the planet. This will allow for annual monitoring of changes in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets with remarkable precision, within just 4 mm (0.16 inches).</p><br />
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<p><em>Image from NASA/Goddard video</em></p><br />
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<p>The primary objective is to track variations in ice levels, particularly in the coldest areas on Earth. This data will be invaluable for researchers studying climate change and its global effects. The previous mission, ICESat-I, utilized a single laser system that operated at a mere 40 pulses per second—250 times slower than ICESat-2. The data collected from ICESat-I, along with information from the IceBridge airborne campaign, will serve as benchmarks for the new satellite's findings.</p><br />
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<p>Ultimately, the accuracy of ICESat-2 represents a significant advancement in our understanding of ice dynamics.</p><br />
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