Welcome to the National Snow and Ice Data Center

Advancing knowledge of Earth's frozen regions since 1976

Stay current with our expert analyses

Sea ice in all types of shapes
Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets
skiers drop in from a cliff in Silverton, Colorado
Analysis - Snow Today
June 3, 2025
Snow-covered area in May across the western United States was 9 percent above average, at 105,000 square kilometers (41,000 square miles) of snow cover, ranking twelfth in the 25-year satellite record. Snow-covered area for May was 67,000 square kilometers (25,000 square miles) below 2011, the highest year, and 53,000 square kilometers (21,000 square miles) above 2015, the lowest May on record. 

Data, research & analysis updates

Using decades of satellite snow data from NASA’s NSIDC DAAC, researchers discovered that caribou in the Bathurst herd begin their epic migration just days after Arctic snowmelt begins—revealing a striking and consistent link between thawing landscapes and animal movement. The study highlights how high-resolution, open-access data is uncovering vital patterns in wildlife behavior amid a rapidly changing climate.

Data management programs at NSIDC

A satellite view of Malaspina Glacier in Alaska

NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC)

Open access cryosphere and related geophysical data from NASA Earth-observing satellite missions, airborne campaigns, and field observations.
methane bubbles frozen in lake in Canada

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at NSIDC

A NOAA-funded program providing open access data from satellites, field instruments, weather stations, historical records, and rescued data.
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Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA): Data Curation for Indigenous Communities

Working with Indigenous communities in the Arctic to preserve and promote their data and knowledge for use in scientific studies.