Applications of Laser in Observing the Earth from the Sky
Liu Ji-yu · Engineering of Surveying and Mapping · 2001
Since the first Laser came into being in July 1960, Laser ranging has become a rapid development and advanced technology to survey and describe the earth. The range data acquired only from Laser satellites can be used to determine broad crustal movement, polar motion, earth rotation, earth's gravity field and precise satellite orbit parameters, solid earth and ocean tidal amplitudes. The recent developments worthy of attention are discussed as follows: To solve the difference between laser and microwave orbit parameters of GLONASS satellites in IGEX-98; To evaluate the ephemeris accuracy for GPS satellites (PAN05/06); To check the errors determining Topex/Poseidon satellite orbit with GPS; To survey the sea-water depths by means of an Airborne Laser Sounding Sytem; To observe the earth using EOS-ALT borne Geoscience Laser Ranging SyStem.