GLD100: The near-global lunar 100 m raster DTM from LROC WAC stereo image data

Kurzfassung

We derived near-global lunar topography from stereo image data acquired by the Wide-angle Camera (WAC) of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) system. From polar orbit tracks, the LROC WAC provides image data with a mean ground resolution at nadir of 75 m/pixel with substantial cross-track stereo overlap. WAC stereo images from the one-year nominal mission and the first months of the science mission phase are combined to produce a near-global digital terrain model (DTM) with a pixel spacing of 100 m, the Global Lunar DTM 100 m, or “GLD100.” It covers 79°S to 79°N latitudes, 98.2% of the entire lunar surface. We compare the GLD100 with results from previous stereo and altimetry-based products, particularly with the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) altimetry, which is the current topographic reference for the Moon. We describe typical characteristics of the GLD100 and, based upon the comparison to the LOLA data set, assess its vertical and lateral resolution and accuracy. We conclude that the introduced first version of the stereo-based GLD100 is a valuable topographic representation of the lunar surface, complementary to the LOLA altimetry data set. Further improvements can be expected from continuative investigations.