NSIDC

NSIDC, the National Snow and Ice Data Center, is a data center that collects, stores, curates, and distributes information on snow, ice, glaciers, and other cryospheric phenomena. It serves researchers, educators, policymakers, and the public by providing long-term archives, documentation, and analysis tools. The center is based at the University of Colorado Boulder and operates as the NASA Distributed Active Archive Center for Cryospheric Data, with support from multiple agencies through CIRES.

NSIDC maintains and distributes a range of data resources drawn from satellite observations, airborne campaigns, and in situ measurements. It emphasizes metadata quality, interoperability, and data integrity to support reproducible science. Datasets are provided in standard formats (for example, NetCDF and HDF) and are accompanied by documentation, usage notes, and citations. NSIDC also develops and hosts data tools and visualization resources such as interactive indices and dashboards.

Key products include the Sea Ice Index, which tracks Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extent and concentration; snow cover observations and snowfall data; glacier mass balance and ice sheet height records; and permafrost and related cryospheric data. The center also houses long-term records that support climate research and trend analysis. It collaborates with NASA and other partners on data collection and distribution and participates in community initiatives to improve data accessibility.

Access to NSIDC data is open to the public through its online portal. Users can search catalogs, download data, cite datasets with DOIs, and access documentation, tutorials, and user support. NSIDC emphasizes data stewardship, user education, and international collaboration to advance understanding of snow and ice in a changing climate.