An ESRI formatted triangular irregular network (TIN) of the Antarctic continental terrain, derived from ERS radar altimeter data. The data is in a Polar Stereographic projection with true scale at 71 degrees South. The TIN is unreliable in latitudes south of 82 degrees South and steep areas of the continent, particularly along the coast. ESA's two European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites, ERS-1 and 2, were launched into the same orbit in 1991 and 1995 respectively. Their payloads included a synthetic aperture imaging radar, radar altimeter and instruments to measure ocean surface temperature and wind fields. ERS-2 added an additional sensor for atmospheric ozone monitoring. The two satellites acquired a combined data set extending over two decades. The ERS-1 mission ended on 10 March 2000 and ERS-2 was retired on 05 September 2011.

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• ERS_DTM_TIN_ANT

AU_AADC Short Name: ERS_DTM_TIN_ANT Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C1214308549-AU_AADC

This map shows the distribution of the iceberg data extracted from ERS SAR images. Icebergs are identified in Synthetic Aperture Radar [SAR] images by image analysis using the texture and intensity of the microwave backscatter observations. The images are segmented using an edge detecting algorithm, and segments identified as iceberg or background, which may be sea ice, open water, or a mixture of both. Dimensions of the icebergs are derived by spatial analysis of the corresponding image segments. Location of the iceberg is derived from its position within the image and the navigation data that gives the location and orientation of the image. More than 20,000 individual observations have been extracted from SAR images acquired by the European Space Agency's ERS-1 and 2 satellites and the Canadian Space Agency's Radarsat satellite. Because images can overlap, some proportion of the observations represent multiple observations of the same set of icebergs. Most observations relate to the sector between longitudes 70E and 135E. The data set includes observations from several other discrete areas around the Antarctic coast. In general observations are within 200 km of the coast but in limited areas extend to about 500 km from the coast. This metadata record has been derived from work performed under the auspices of ASAC project 2187 (ASAC_2187). The map in the pdf file shows the extent of the coverage of individual SAR scenes used in the analysis and the abundance and size characteristics (by a limited colour palette) of the identified icebergs.

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• AAD_Ant_iceberg_SAR

AU_AADC Short Name: AAD_Ant_iceberg_SAR Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C1214311458-AU_AADC

The BOREAS RSS-17 team acquired and analyzed imaging radar data from the ESA's ERS-1 over a complete annual cycle at the BOREAS sites in Canada in 1994 to detect shifts in radar backscatter related to varying environmental conditions. Two independent transitions corresponding to soil thaw and possible canopy thaw were revealed by the data. The results demonstrated that radar provides an ability to observe thaw transitions at the beginning of the growing season, which in turn helps constrain the length of the growing season.

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ORNL_CLOUD Short Name: rss17fth_484 Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C2929141520-ORNL_CLOUD

The Fire Product: Burnt Areas in Central Africa was part of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme Data and Information System (IGBP-DIS) Regional Satellite Fire Data Compilation CD-ROM. Three hundred and ten Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-1) data over Central Africa were used to detect areas affected by burning during the 1994-1995 dry season. An algorithm was developed to detect areas where over 50% of the pixel had burnt. The general features of the data show the movement of burnt areas south across Central Africa as the dry season progresses. The data set provided consists of a raster image of Central Africa. Each value in the raster image relates a point where burnt areas were detected within the period 15 October 1994 to 10 March 1995. See also: http://www.gvm.sai.jrc.it/

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• IGBP-DIS_FIRE_CAFRICA

SCIOPS Short Name: IGBP-DIS_FIRE_CAFRICA Version ID: Not provided Unique ID: C1214155421-SCIOPS

On the background of these requirements for sensor calibration, intercalibration and product validation, the subgroup on Calibration and Validation of the Committee on Earth Observing System (CEOS) formulated the following recommendation during the plenary session held in China at the end of 2004, with the goal of setting-up and operating an internet based system to provide sensor data, protocols and guidelines for these purposes: Background: Reference Datasets are required to support the understanding of climate change and quality assure operational services by Earth Observing satellites. The data from different sensors and the resulting synergistic data products require a high level of accuracy that can only be obtained through continuous traceable calibration and validation activities. Requirement: Initiate an activity to document a reference methodology to predict Top of Atmosphere (TOA) radiance for which currently flying and planned wide swath sensors can be intercompared, i.e. define a standard for traceability. Also create and maintain a fully accessible web page containing, on an instrument basis, links to all instrument characteristics needed for intercomparisons as specified above, ideally in a common format. In addition, create and maintain a database (e.g. SADE) of instrument data for specific vicarious calibration sites, including site characteristics, in a common format. Each agency is responsible for providing data for their instruments in this common format. Recommendation : The required activities described above should be supported for an implementation period of two years and a maintenance period over two subsequent years. The CEOS should encourage a member agency to accept the lead role in supporting this activity. CEOS should request all member agencies to support this activity by providing appropriate information and data in a timely manner. Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS): Algeria 3 is one of six CEOS reference Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) that are CEOS Reference Test Sites. Besides the nominally good site characteristics (temporal stability, uniformity, homogeneity, etc.), these six PICS were selected by also taking into account their heritage and the large number of datasets from multiple instruments that already existed in the EO archives and the long history of characterization performed over these sites. The PICS have high reflectance and are usually made up of sand dunes with climatologically low aerosol loading and practically no vegetation. Consequently, these PICS can be used to evaluate the long-term stability of instrument and facilitate inter-comparison of multiple instruments.

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USGS_LTA Short Name: CEOS_CalVal_Test_Sites-Algeria3 Version ID: Not provided Unique ID: C1220567099-USGS_LTA