Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell recently announced that the highest point in North America, formerly known as Mount McKinley, will be designated by the name Denali in all federal records. Later, U.S. Geological Survey acting Director Suzette Kimball announced that the Denali summit has a new, official elevation of 20,310 feet.

Using the latest methods of satellite-based surveying technology (GPS), a team of mountaineering surveyors under the direction of the U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS), the National Park Service, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute re-measured the height of the mountain this summer. The last official survey of the summit had been conducted in 1953.

Scientists from NOAA’s NGS, Dewberry, CompassData, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the USGS carefully analyzed the raw data acquired by the survey party to arrive at the final elevation number. The exceptional circumstances for this surveying challenge, such as making allowances for the variable depth of the snow pack and establishing the appropriate surface that coincides with mean sea level, were judiciously considered before the new apex elevation was finally determined.

The Landsat 8 image from June 15, 2015, shows a clear view of the perennially snow-covered summit. Glaciers stream down the mountain to lower elevations.