Welcome to NASA's
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). The directory
now hosts a new look and new search capability. We hope you will experience
improved navigation throughout the site. For
additional details on the new features offered,
please see our release
announcement. Please provide your feedback
through our comment
form.
Our goal is to enable
users to locate and obtain access to Earth
science data sets and services relevant to
global change and Earth science research.
The GCMD database holds more than 25,000 descriptions
of Earth science data sets and services covering
all aspects of Earth and environmental sciences.
One can use the search box or select from
the available keywords to search for data
and services. We encourage your participation
in writing and maintaining the information
in our databases. You will find authoring
tools to assist you. In addition, Subscription services
are available to notify you of new entries.
The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) International Directory Network (IDN) Interoperability Forum is available to
discuss content and database issues.
Short History of
the GCMD
The GCMD began as
the prototype NASA Master Directory (NMD)
as part of the National Space Science Data
Center (NSSDC) at NASA/Goddard Space Flight
Center to promote the exchange of scientific
data sets (both Earth and space sciences)
through the Catalog Interoperability (CI)
project. In the summer of 1987, the CI Working
Group (consisting of several U.S. Federal
and international agencies) defined the type
of information and level of detail that would
be contained within the NMD. The first version
of the NMD was released in 1987. In 1989,
the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
(CEOS) Data Working Group (DWG) established
the CEOS International Directory Network (IDN)
to foster the exchange of information among
international agencies. In 1990, the Interagency
Working Group on Data Management for Global
Change (IWGDMGC) adopted the directory as
a prototype to facilitate global change research
- in response to the challenge by the Earth
System Science Committee (ESSC). Thereafter,
the NMD was renamed the Global Change Master
Directory (GCMD) for its Earth sciences applications.
In 1994, the GCMD became part of the Global
Change Data Center within the Earth Sciences
Directorate at NASA/GSFC, where it still resides.
|