ICESat-2 Lidar Measurements of the Polar Atmosphere

Carrying the Advanced Topographic Lidar Altimeter System (ATLAS), ICESat-2 is scheduled for launch in September, 2018. Though the primary science objective of the 3 year mission is the high resolution altimetry mapping of the Earth’s major ice sheets, ATLAS will also acquire global atmospheric backscatter profiles from the 3 strong 532 nm laser beams (ATLAS utilizes 6 beams in total). ICESat-2 will provide exceptional coverage of the polar regions, reaching 88 north and south latitude. We will present the first observations of polar clouds, aerosols and blowing snow from the ICESat-2 satellite.