NASA launches laser to scan Earth's polar ice caps

ICESat-2 is a NASA mission designed to measure polar ice heights with high precision. It uses the advanced Atlas system to send trillions of photons in six beams of green light, firing 10,000 times per second. This allows it to capture 60,000 measurements per second, providing detailed views of ice surfaces in Greenland and Antarctica. The mission aims to enhance our understanding of ice dynamics by measuring ice heights four times a year as the satellite orbits from pole to pole.

What is the primary advantage of ICEsat-2 over its predecessor?

• It can measure temperature changes.

• It can collect more height measurements of polar ice.

• It can travel faster around the Earth.

• It can operate in all weather conditions.

What is the name of the system used by ICEsat-2 to send photons to the ground?

• PhotonX

• Atlas

• LaserPro

• GreenBeam

How many measurements per second can the ICEsat-2 laser capture?

• 10,000

• 100,000

• 20,000

• 60,000

What regions can ICEsat-2 measure ice with high precision?

• The Himalayas and Andes

• Greenland and Antarctica

• The Sahara and Amazon

• The Arctic and Antarctic

How often does ICEsat-2 measure ice heights as it circles the Earth?

• Every month

• Once a year

• Four times a year

• Twice a year