The San Gabriel Mountains viewed from the Malibu coastline; Los Angeles is to the right, appearing grey Photo: NASA
The mountains, valleys and cities of California have been revealed in 3D in new NASA images, the latest from a space shuttle project to create the world’s most precise topographic map.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists are processing data gathered during the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), conducted in February 2000. The new images “are a tantalising preview of things to come from this programme”, says Michael Kobrick, JPL STRM project scientist.
“We are processing data for the rest of the world on a continent-by-continent basis, mapping and exploring many relatively unknown regions where our maps will be far more precise than the best global maps in use today,” he says.
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When the world map is completed in autumn 2002, it will cover 80 per cent of Earth’s land mass, from Alaska to the southern tip of South America.
Mount Shasta, California’s tallest volcano, at 4,300 metres Photo: NASA
Civilians will be able to use versions of the maps to assist in earthquake research, flood control, transportation or urban planning, NASA believes. But only the military will have access to the most detailed data. The US Department of Defense says it will use the maps to improve its missile targeting and troop deployment.
The SRTM was flown aboard the shuttle Endeavour from 11 to 22 February 2000. The 3D measurements of Earth’s surface were collected using radar interferometry, which compares two radar images taken from slightly different locations.
