Earth Science Data Centers
The Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) are the data management and user services arm of NASA's EOSDIS. The data centers process, archive, document, and distribute data from NASA's past and current Earth-observing satellites and field measurement programs. Each center serves a specific Earth system science discipline.
This section presents the member centers and gives an overview of their data holdings. The User Services Office at each center offers data products, information, services, and tools to assist data users. This section provides contact information for the User Services Office at each data center.
- An Introduction to Earth Science Data Resources
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From the vantage point above Earth, we can view our Earth as a whole system, observe the results of complex interactions, and begin to understand how our star and planet are changing. Working with its domestic and international partners, NASA provides accurate and objective scientific data and analysis to advance our understanding of Earth system processes.
- Earth Science Data Terminology and Formats
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An explanation of data types, products, processing levels and terminology relating to accessing data from NASA's Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs).
- Earth Science Data Tools and Web Sites
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Many of the data sets available from the DAAC Alliance require the use of special tools for image processing and analysis. The data centers also provide center-unique tools for functions such as searching and subsettting data.
- Data and Information Policy
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NASA's Earth Science program was established to use the advanced technology of NASA to understand and protect our home planet by using our view from space to study the Earth system and improve prediction of Earth system change. To meet this challenge, NASA promotes the full and open sharing of all data with the research and applications communities, private industry, academia, and the general public.
- Alaska Satellite Facility DAAC (ASF DAAC)
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The ASF DAAC is supported by NASA to acquire, process, archive, and distribute Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from polar-orbiting satellites to advance polar research and Earth science.
- GSFC Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)
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The NASA GES DISC provides data, services, and information that enable science, education, and application research users to better understand global climate change.
- Global Hydrology and Resource Center (GHRC)
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The GHRC provides both historical and current Earth science data, information, and products from satellite, airborne, and surface-based instruments.
- Langley Research Center DAAC
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The Langley DAAC supports more than 35 projects and has more than 800 archived data sets relating to radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and tropospheric chemistry.
- Land Processes DAAC (LP DAAC)
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The LP DAAC promotes interdisciplinary study and understanding of Earth's integrated systems by providing data for the investigation, characterization, and monitoring of biologic, geologic, hydrologic, ecologic, and related conditions and processes.
- National Snow and Ice Data Center DAAC (NSIDC DAAC)
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The NSIDC DAAC provides data and information for snow and ice processes, particularly interactions among snow, ice, atmosphere, and ocean, in support of research in global change detection and model validation.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL DAAC)
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The NSIDC DAAC provides data and information for snow and ice processes, particularly interactions among snow, ice, atmosphere, and ocean, in support of research in global change detection and model validation.
- Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC)
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The PO.DAAC provides global oceanographic data from spaceborne instruments, and produces higher level data products. Core holdings include ocean surface topography, ocean winds, and sea surface temperatures.
- Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
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SEDAC's missions are to synthesize Earth science and socioeconomic data and information in ways useful to a wide range of decision makers and other applied users, and to provide an "Information Gateway" between the socioeconomic and Earth science data and information domains.