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Scientists need to fully understand and monitor changes to the world's ice sheets as an indicator of climate change and global sea level rise. A key input for this is accurate and up-to-date maps of the ice sheets including three-dimensional (3D) velocity. Weather, illumination and atmospheric effects often prevent optical Earth observation systems from providing accurate measures of ice dynamics. In addition, few space-borne platforms are in orbits that allow regular imaging at extreme southern latitudes. PROBLEM SOLUTION RADARSAT-2 has a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor that is well suited to provide weather- and season-independent images and measurements of ice sheets. It also has a unique capability to acquire data over the entire Antarctic continent. MDA worked closely with the Canadian Space Agency to acquire and process 30,000 RADARSAT-2 images as part of an international effort under the PSTG that fills a critical gap in Antarctic observations. MDA processed this RADARSAT-2 data and provided it to scientists allowing them to integrate their ice measurements into complete 3D velocity maps of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. MDA, a Maxar company, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) partnered under the Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) of the World Meteorological Organization to support research of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. This ice sheet extends 14 million square kilometers, about the size of the contiguous United States and Mexico combined, according to the National Snow & Ice Data Center. With about 30 million cubic kilometers of ice, this ice sheet is a key source of the world's freshwater. MDA's RADARSAT-2 satellite provides scientists with critical data to map the velocity of this ice sheet, leading to a better understanding of this critical part of the cr yosphere. IMPACT Map of ice sheet velocity over Antarctica produced with multisource SAR data. Graphic created by Rignot E., Mouginot J., Scheuchl B. at the University of California, Ir vine. LEVERAGING RADARSAT-2 IMAGES AND SENSORS TO HELP SCIENTISTS STUDY THE ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET Provides key evidence for studying the effects of climate change Impact Report | maxar.com/impactreport 14