NASA has announced the release of the most complete topographic data of the earth to date. Over 99 percent of the earth’s surface was mapped using measurements obtained from NASA’s Terra spacecraft using the Japanese Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer instrument, aka Aster. Previously, the most comprehensive mapping of the earth’s topopgraphy was accomplished through the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission which produced data covering 80 percent of the earth’s surface. The new Aster data covers the earth from 83 degrees north latitude and 83 degrees south and produces new data for mostly desert and steep terrain areas not covered previously.
