ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Geological structure measurement by LiDAR

Hey kiddo! Today we're going to talk about how we measure the different shapes and sizes of mountains or hills using something called Lidar.

Lidar is a fancy tool that uses lasers to create very detailed and accurate maps of the surface of the Earth. It works like a flashlight that shoots out lots of little beams of light, which bounce back off the ground and are picked up by a special sensor.

The sensor can tell how long it took the laser beams to bounce back, which helps us figure out how far away the ground is. By taking lots and lots of these measurements in very quick succession, we can create a detailed picture of what the ground looks like.

For instance, imagine you have a really big and tall mountain in front of you. We can use Lidar to figure out the height of the mountain, the steepness of its sides, and the shape of the land around it.

We can even use Lidar to "see through" things like trees and bushes to get a better idea of what the ground looks like under all that vegetation.

By using Lidar to study the world around us, scientists can learn more about the land and how it has changed over time. It can help us better understand things like earthquakes, landslides, and other geological events.

So there you have it, kiddo! Lidar is a cool tool that uses lasers to make very detailed maps of the Earth's surface, helping us learn more about the different shapes and sizes of mountains or hills.