CryoSat-2 surveys ice thickness with Finnish technology
ESA CryoSat’s first launch in 2005 failed. The new version launched this time is equipped with a radar that measures ice thickness to an accuracy of one centimeter.More accurate information on the variations in the thickness of ice floating in the polar oceans is needed for researching climate change. The most important device on CryoSat-2 is a radar, which surveys to one centimeter accuracy. With this information the variations and the speed of these variations in the thickness of polar ice sheets and sea ice can be surveyed much more efficiently than before.
– In addition to being of use to decision-makers, the information provided by environmental satellites benefits all of us. With the help of these new satellite services we will hopefully get up-to-date information also on the condition of our immediate environment, says the Director for Space Technology Kimmo Kanto from the Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, Tekes.
Researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute have carried out precise ice surveys on the Baltic Sea and the Arctic regions, which will be used for confirming the accuracy of the satellite’s results. The Aalto University’s School of Science and Technology has developed measuring systems for the satellite, in addition to taking part in the modeling of the measurements.
Finnish Patria Aviation Oy has supplied Power Distribution Units for the satellite. These units are based on technology, which Patria has developed also for ESA’s previous satellites.
CryoSat-2 is ESA’s third Earth Explorer environmental satellite. The two others, gravity field satellite GOCE and soil moisture and ocean salinity satellite SMOS are already surveying the Earth. CryoSat was launched at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
www.esa.int/cryosat
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