authority: gcos
slug: ice-sheets-and-ice-shelves
name: Ice Sheets and Ice Shelves
domain: land
subdomain: cryosphere
authority_id: gcos:ice-sheets-and-ice-shelves
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: land_ice_thickness
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: mass-balance
    entity: ice-sheet
canonical_units: Gt yr-1
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Mass balance, surface elevation, surface velocity, grounding-line position
  and calving-front geometry of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and
  their ice shelves. Combines radar/laser altimetry, gravimetry and SAR.
theme: cryosphere
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/ice-sheets-and-ice-shelves