Earth  ID: 4478

The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA)

Visualizations by Kel Elkins Released on March 18, 2022
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This visualization explores the spatial resolution of the REMA data. The camera starts out at a global view of Antarctica before zooming into the Ross Archipelago region. RADARSAT DEM data is shown as the camera pushes in, showing the limits of the data resolution. A wipe transition reveals the REMA data, exposing additional details as the camera moves down towards the surface. Terrain is represented as a mesh to show the full resolution of the data. The camera flies up a valley, exploring the detailed REMA data. LIMA imagery is revealed at the end of the visualization.

Coming soon to our YouTube channel.
The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) provides the first, high resolution (8-meter) terrain map of nearly the entire continent.

REMA is constructed from hundreds of thousands of individual stereoscopic Digital Elevation Models (DEM) extracted from pairs of submeter (0.32 to 0.5 m) resolution DigitalGlobe satellite imagery, including data from WorldView-1, WorldView-2, and WorldView-3, and a small number from GeoEye-1, acquired between 2009 and 2017, with most collected in 2015 and 2016, over the austral summer seasons (mostly December to March).

Each individual DEM was vertically registered to satellite altimetry measurements from Cryosat-2 and ICESat, resulting in absolute uncertainties of less than 1 m over most of its area, and relative uncertainties of decimeters.

This visualization compares the spatial resolution of REMA with DEM data from RADARSAT.
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High resolution still image of the Ross Archipelago region
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High resolution still image of RADARSAT DEM
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High resolution still image of REMA
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High resolution still image of REMA
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High resolution still image of REMA
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High resolution still image of REMA (elevation) with LIMA (imagery)
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360 (spherical) version of the visualization

Coming soon to our YouTube channel.
 

Used Elsewhere In

Two Scientists Have a Frank and Honest Discussion about Antarctica

Visualization Credits

Kel Elkins (USRA): Lead Visualizer
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Visualizer
Lori Perkins (NASA/GSFC): Visualizer
Paul Morin (University of Minnesota): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4478

Data Used:
Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica - 8m also referred to as: REMA
Data Compilation - The Polar Geospatial Center (PGC)
High resolution, time-stamped Digital Surface Model (DSM) of Antarctica at 8-meter spatial resolution
Credit:
DEMs provided by the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and the Polar Geospatial. Computer time provided through a Blue Waters Innovation Initiative. DEMs produced using data from DigitalGlobe, Inc.
view all stories where this data set is used
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Antarctic
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Land Surface >> Topography >> Terrain Elevation
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> 360

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0