Overview

The NSIDC Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) is one of NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Data Centers. The NASA data centers process, archive, document, and distribute data from NASA's past and current Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and field measurement programs. Each data center serves one or more specific Earth science disciplines and provides its user community with data products, data information, user services, and tools unique to its particular science. The NSIDC DAAC focuses on the study of the cryosphere. Each data center is also guided by a User Working Group (UWG) in identifying and generating these needed data products.

The NASA data centers serve as the operational data management and user services arm of EOSDIS performing such tasks as data ingest and storage, filling user orders, answering inquiries, monitoring user comments, and providing referrals to other data centers.

This Web site describes the various data-related projects at the NSIDC DAAC, and provides access to all NSIDC DAAC data holdings, including related data. NSIDC welcomes feedback on this site and on all NSIDC DAAC services. Please contact NSIDC User Services with your feedback.

DAAC Data Projects

The NSIDC DAAC archives and distributes brightness temperature data, polar atmosphere data, satellite imagery, sea ice data, snow cover data, and ice sheet data. Data are derived from a range of operational and historical sources that use widely disparate technologies. DAAC Data Projects describes many of these data sources, including MODIS, AMSR-E, GLAS, and others.

DAAC Development Projects

In support of our primary mission to archive and distribute data from our NASA data sources, the DAAC also creates and provides many software tools and products to enable users to discover, locate, process, and visualize the data. We continually update our systems to maintain leading-edge quality and functionality through DAAC Development Projects.

DAAC Outreach

In addition to providing research-quality data and documentation, the DAAC creates a variety of supporting materials suitable for broader audiences. These DAAC Outreach materials serve our secondary mission to increase public awareness of global change issues and the worldwide impact of the cryosphere.

User Relations

Our User Services Office has a broad knowledge of our data holdings and their scientific usage and can offer prompt, personalized assistance when questions arise about our data holdings. Our User Working Group (UWG) helps steer our direction so that our data holdings are appropriate for current research and that our development efforts are focused on areas of greatest user impact. We are always eager to hear user feedback regarding any aspects of our operations, and invite you to visit our User Relations section for contacts and additional information.