| CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
|
|
Measurements > Gravity and Magnetic Fields >
Gravity, Magnetic and Geodynamic measurements >
Crustal Motion
  | Measurement Definition*: Changes in time of the position and height of the Earth’s plates. Indicative of the lithosphere dynamics, thus useful for earthquake prediction - Physical unit: [ mm/y ] - Accuracy unit: [ mm/y ]. |
| 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 | |
PALSAR-2
Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-2 | Operational
| Disaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry. | n/a | |
PALSAR-3
Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-3 | Being developed
| Disaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry. | n/a | |
LTI
Laser Tracking Instrument | Approved
| The aim of MAGIC is to obtain high-resolution measurements in space and time and include the capability to determine the variations in gravity field due to mass change in hydrology, cryosphere, oceanography, solid Earth and climate change signals so as to serve science and operational products including emergency services. | n/a | |
Multiview Thermal-Infared
Multiview Thermal-Infared | Approved
| Observations of motion occurring at or near Earth’s surface. | n/a | |
Passive Synthetic Aperture Radar
Passive Synthetic Aperture Radar | Approved
| High-resolution observations of motion occurring at or near Earth’s surface. Record radio waves originating from the accompanying Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite as they bounce back from the Earth’s surface, allowing scientists to measure small shifts in the shape of the land surface, such as those related to earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as of land ice and sea ice. | n/a | |
|
|
|
* Description adapted from WMO.
|
|