ASTER GDEM v3
Download ASTER GDEM v3 30m tiles from NASA Earthdata for near-global land elevation coverage between 83°N and 83°S, especially useful where SRTM has gaps.
Format
GeoTIFF
Geometry
Raster DEM
Coverage
Near-global land (83°N–83°S)
Resolution
30 meters (1 arc-second)
About this dataset
NASA/JAXA ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model Version 3 at 30-meter resolution with near-global land coverage from stereo optical imagery.
ASTER GDEM v3 is a 30-meter global DEM produced from stereo-pair images collected by the ASTER instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. Version 3 improves on earlier releases with reduced void areas, better water body masking, and additional stereo pairs. Coverage spans 83°N to 83°S and data is distributed as 1° x 1° GeoTIFF tiles via NASA Earthdata.
How to download
- 1 Create or sign in to your NASA Earthdata account at urs.earthdata.nasa.gov.
- 2 Search for ASTER GDEM V003 on Earthdata Search or go to the LP DAAC product page.
- 3 Select the 1° x 1° tiles covering your area of interest and add them to your cart.
- 4 Download the GeoTIFF tiles and mosaic them in QGIS or GDAL for your study area.
FAQ
How does ASTER GDEM v3 compare to SRTM?
ASTER GDEM v3 covers a wider latitude range (83°N–83°S vs. 60°N–56°S for SRTM) but uses optical stereo correlation, which can introduce artifacts in cloudy or low-contrast areas. SRTM's radar-based approach is generally more reliable in tropical forests.
Are there still voids in ASTER GDEM v3?
Version 3 significantly reduced voids compared to v2, but some gaps remain in persistently cloudy regions. Consider MERIT DEM or CGIAR-CSI SRTM for void-filled alternatives.