Antarctica observed with the ERS Altimeter

The radar altimeter aboard ESA's ERS-1 satellite has been used to observe 80% of Antarctica for the first time. A first parameter (surface height) was retrieved from wave forms backscattered from the surface. This was then corrected (orbit, atmospheric pressure) and mapped by using an inverse method (Fig. top left in metres). From this map one can deduce the surface slope (Fig. top right in m/km) or the topography curvature (Fig . bottom left in m/km2). These maps are also used to validate ice flow models, force or initialise them. Other geophysical parameters can be derived [Image Date: 1996-00-00] [97.11.014-003]