Cryosat: Earth explorers and Greenland

Date: Tue, Jun 21, 2011 | 06:30 - 06:45 GMT | 08:30 - 08:45 CEST

Type: ESA TV News

Launched in April 2010 Cryosat is acquiring accurate measurements of the thickness of floating sea-ice so that seasonal to inter-annual variations can be detected. Cryosat is also surveying the surface of continental ice sheets to detect small elevation changes.

Cryosat is now confirming the regional trends in Arctic perennial sea-ice thickness and mass, and determining the contribution that the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are making to mean global rise in sea level.

This video was filmed in Greenland where can be found all ingredients linked to this Earth Exporer mission which, along with the other Earth Explorers, should give us a better understanding of climate changes.

It also includes interviews with Volker Liebig, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes (in english, german and french) and Duncan Wingham, ESA Cryosat Lead Investigator (in english).

More backgroud information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM9JP2VQUD_index_0_m.html

Satellite Parameters: Reception Parameters for 4.8 degrees East Satellite Sirius 4 Transponder B28 Centre Frequency 12245.340 MHz Polarisation Offset 0 degrees Polarisation State Vertical FEC Rate 3/4*188/204 Symbolrate 27.5 Megasymbols/s