| CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
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Measurements > Gravity and Magnetic Fields >
Gravity, Magnetic and Geodynamic measurements >
Crustal plates positioning
  | Measurement Definition*: Basic for monitoring the evolution of the lithosphere dynamics - Physical unit: [ cm ] - Accuracy unit: [ cm ]. |
| Instrument | Status/
Accuracy | Instrument Description | Measurement Technology | Timeline |
LCCRA (LARES)
Laser Corner Cube Reflector Assembly | Operational
| Accuracy measurements on Lense-Thirring effect and baseline tracking data for General Relativity study and precision geodesy. Also for calibration of radar altimeter bias. | n/a |  |
LCCRA (LARES-2)
Laser Corner Cube Reflector Assembly | Operational
| Accuracy measurements on Lense-Thirring effect and baseline tracking data for General Relativity study and precision geodesy. Also for calibration of radar altimeter bias. Retro-reflectors are smaller (about 1 inch in diameter) than those mounted onboard LARES-1 and their number is much greater (about 300). | n/a | |
LRA (LAGEOS)
Laser Retroreflector Array | Operational
| Baseline tracking data for precision geodesy. Also for calibration of radar altimeter bias. Several types used on various missions. | n/a | |
LRA (Sentinel-6)
Laser Retroreflector Array (Sentinel-6) | Operational
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L-band SAR
L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar | Being developed
| L-band SAR instrument offering full polarimetry, high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, low ambiguity ratios and capability for repeat-pass & single-pass cross-track interferometry to measure surface deformation of vegetated terrain, soil moisture, land cover classification, crop type discrimination and its temporal analysis. Furthermore, it will monitor Polar ice sheets and ice caps, and the sea-ice conditions (i.e. type, drift, deformation, concentration, lead fraction), as well as contribute to the European maritime situational awareness. | n/a | |
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* Description adapted from WMO.
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