Improvement of elevation accuracy for mass-balance monitoring using in-flight laser calibration

To exploit the high accuracy potential of laser ranging, suitable laser-altimeter calibration procedures combining laboratory and in-flight calibration steps are needed. Previous calibration schemes have limited the calibration process to flying over planar surfaces, and systematic errors remained in the system. In this paper we present a laser calibration algorithm that utilizes natural surfaces as calibration sites. This is especially important for calibrating systems in the interior of ice sheets. The proposed approach is demonstrated in calibrating the U.S. National Science Foundation Support Office for Aerogeophysical Research laser altimetry system. The results show a significant improvement in accuracy.