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NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC)
Enabling researchers and data users to better understand how changes in the cryosphere impact our planet.
Open access NASA data for your research and studies
The NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC) distributes cryosphere and related geophysical data from NASA Earth-observing satellite missions, airborne campaigns, and field observations. These data can be used to study topics relating to snow cover, sea ice, ice sheets, ice shelves, glaciers, frozen ground, soil moisture, climate interactions, and more.
Featured data & resources
![Aerial landscape image of patterned ground on Taymyr Peninsula, Russia Aerial landscape image of patterned ground on Taymyr Peninsula, Russia](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/Frozen-ground-polygons-taymyr-russia-adobe.jpg.webp?itok=3MJluS2x)
How to get started
With over 1,400 data sets to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. Use this easy-to-read tutorial on how to navigate this website to discover and work with data, as well as frequently asked questions about tools and resources.
![larsenb_animation_nsidc_0.gif larsenb_animation_nsidc_0.gif](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/larsenb_animation_nsidc_0.gif.webp?itok=UFCO-uAZ)
Browse Data Collections
Wondering what types of scientific questions these data can be used to study and how to access the data? The NSIDC DAAC archives and distributes data for over 20 NASA Earth-observing missions and projects.
![Snapshot of AMSR2 Arctic SST & snow depth Snapshot of AMSR2 Arctic SST & snow depth](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/data-screenshot-jaxa-amsr2-Dec-2018.png.webp?itok=vwbohn1Z)
Visualize data
Explore featured interactive data visualization tools that allow you to explore cryosphere data without having to access, download, and analyze data yourself.
![cloud cloud](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/Satellite%20image/cloud.jpg.webp?itok=RMAlSqmR)
Featured Data Collection: NASA Earthdata Cloud
NSIDC DAAC is migrating data to the Earthdata Cloud. Learn more about cloud-accessible NSIDC DAAC data and how to access the data.
![data image from VIIRS sensor data image from VIIRS sensor](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/Data/viirs-data-thumbail.png.webp?itok=rygTQXLp)
Featured Data Collection: VIIRS
Explore snow cover, sea ice cover, and sea ice temperature data collected by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor.
![Skating into an ice cave. Byron Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Skating into an ice cave. Byron Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska](/sites/default/files/styles/story_image_style/public/images/Glacial%20ice-ice%20skating-Alaska.jpg.webp?itok=heI8Zj65)
Submit data to NSIDC DAAC
Instructions and forms for data producers to publish their assigned data or update their data with NSIDC DAAC. Plus, information for how to request that community-produced data be archived by NSIDC DAAC.