Greenland yesterday.
Later today we will attempt to fly along a line that a satellite called
Cryosat-2 is flying over.
Cryosat is a satellite radar altimeter, which means that it measures it's
height above earths surface using radar. It is a new generation of
satellites with higher spatial resolution than old radar altimeters.
Cryosat should be cable of producing sea ice thickness, glacial thickness,
and ice sheet thickness estimates from the relative height these objects
stick up above water (or land in some cases). Since ice floats, some of it
is usually (and in theory always) above water, called its freeboard.
Cryosat needs validation data to make sure that the data it produces is
accurate. That is why we will fly along its measurement line and as close
to the same time as we can.This is a bit of tricky operation in the sense
that we need to fly a good transect (ie right along the line), and we need
to be there nearly the same time so that the measurements are of the same
ice (as the ice moves with the water and wind).
Otherwise things are alright, had a bit of a relaxing day yesterday which
was good for me I think.
Still enjoying the cruise despite missing Nicole and Jax immensely.
Well I will update when we have finished our flight.
Justin
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