How to Find and Get Earth Science Data
DAAC Data Search and Order
The data centers are responsible for data archival, product development and distribution, and user support. Each data center is distinguished from one another by their specific Earth system science disciplines. In addition to the search-and-order capabilities provided by the EDG, the data centers have individual online systems that allow them to provide unique services for users of a particular type of data. The center-specific systems emphasize data products, services, and data-handling tools unique to the data center.
The data centers provide their users with the following services and information.
- Data center services
- Center-unique search-and-order systems
- Specific Earth science discipline searches
- Specialized data set tools
- User services
- Assistance in selecting and obtaining data
- Access to data-handling and visualization tools
- Notification of data-related news
- Technical support and referrals
EOS Data Gateway (EDG)
The EDG is the primary access point to EOSDIS and other ESE data holdings archived at the DAAC Alliance data centers and several international data centers. The goal of the EDG is to provide seamless, online access to these archives.
The EDG search-and-order tool provides access to more than 2,100 data sets
held at 19 data centers. This system allows users, including those without
specific knowledge of the data, to search science data holdings, retrieve
high-level descriptions of data sets and detailed descriptions of the data
inventory, view browse images, and place orders for data products.
The EDG search-and-order tool has the following features:
- Browse Capability--Allows a user to explore the list of data sets or granules returned by a search by viewing their temporal coverage, spatial coverage, attributes (metadata), related documents (guide search), and browse images.
- Order Function--Allows the user to select data for ordering, choose packaging information, enter ordering information (such as shipping address), and place an order.
- EOS and Related Search and Access Tools--Provides links to other search and access resources for EOS and related data.
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)
The GCMD provides information to assist users in locating EOS and other Earth science data sets and services. The GCMD holds Earth science data set and service descriptions that provide vital information to help determine whether the data or service meets the user's needs. Descriptions include information such as location of the data or service, associated investigators and other contacts, spatial and temporal coverage of the data, resolution of the data, and links to the actual data or service.
The GCMD database contains more than 15,200 Earth science data set
descriptions, and approximately 2,500 new descriptions are added annually. The
GCMD database also contains more than 1,100 Earth science services (software,
analytical tools, models, educational resources, etc.), and grows by
approximately 200 new service descriptions annually. More than 28 percent of the
GCMD database refers to data from NASA's EOS missions and Earth Science
Information Partner (ESIP) data providers. More than 2,400 data providers
contribute to the GCMD database. The GCMD directory of data and services is
available online.
The GCMD database can be searched for EOSDIS data sets by using free-text or an extensive set of keywords covering all areas of Earth science research including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and oceans, snow and ice, geoscience, paleoclimatology, land surface, and human dimensions of global change. Data sets can also be searched by platform (or spacecraft), instrument, data center, geographic location, or project. For example, a user may conduct a search for all data sets from Terra or for data sets collected by the MODIS instrument. If a data set exists in the EDG, a special link will connect the user directly from the description to the EDG so that the data can be browsed or ordered. Other links will direct the user to online data, documentation, and other information.
Earth science-related services are also searchable. Examples range
from specialized tools for browsing, manipulating, and visualizing EOS
data products to Earth science educational products and environmental
hazard advisory services. Users can search the services database using
controlled keywords or free-text to discover data-set-specific
tools.
Note: Use the GCMD to search for information about data and
services. To order EOSDIS data, use search-and-order systems such as the
EDG or DAAC-specific systems.
Federation Interactive Network for Discovery (FIND)
The FIND Web-based system serves as the user interface for accessing
data within the NASA Earth Science Information Partner (ESIP)
Federation. Users are able to locate data and information held by
members of the Federation. (DAAC Alliance centers are Type 1 ESIPs.) The
Federation partners bring together government agencies, universities,
nonprofit organizations, and businesses in an effort to make Earth
science information available to a broader community. An objective of
the Federation is to evolve methods that make Earth science data easy to
preserve, locate, access, and use for all beneficial applications.
FIND incorporates EOSDIS data available from NASA data centers as well as
data from other Federation members. FIND is based on the Mercury system.