Downloading NSIDC DAAC Earthdata Cloud Data Using a Web Browser

NASA’s NSIDC DAAC offers two easy, browser-based methods to download cloud-hosted data — no coding required. This guide covers both:

• Earthdata Search
• HTTPS File System (CMR Virtual Directory)

Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure you have:

• A NASA Earthdata Login (EDL): https://urs.earthdata.nasa.gov/
• A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)

Start at the Dataset Landing Page

If you already know the dataset you want, start at its landing page.

How to Find the Page

• Browse: NSIDC’s Explore Data page
• Featured datasets: https://nsidc.org/data
• By short name (if known):
  Format: https://nsidc.org/data/<shortname>
  Example: https://nsidc.org/data/ATL06

Then:

1.   Scroll to the Data Access & Tool section.

2.   Click the desired tool card (Earthdata Search or HTTPS File System). Each card links directly to that tool for the dataset.

If you're still in the exploration phase and want to discover data, visit https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/ for Earthdata Search or https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/search/site/collections/directory/NSIDC_CPRD/gov.nasa.eosdis for the CMR Virtual Directory.

Method 1: Earthdata Search

Earthdata Search is NASA’s primary tool for discovering, filtering, and downloading Earth science data, including those from the NSIDC DAAC.

Best For:

• Filter by time or region
• Customizing your order
• Downloading many files at once

Steps:

1.   From the dataset landing page, click the NASA Earthdata Search card.

2.   Log in with your EDL credentials.

3.   Use filters to narrow by time or region, if needed.

4.   Click Download All or Customize with Harmony to begin downloading your selected files.

For step-by-step instructions with screenshots and advanced customization options, visit the help article: https://nsidc.org/data/user-resources/help-center/search-order-and-customize-nsidc-daac-data-nasa-earthdata-search

Method 2: HTTPS File System (CMR Virtual Directories)

The CMR Virtual Directory provides a simple, folder-style view of NSIDC DAAC datasets in the NASA Earthdata Cloud.

Best For:

• Quickly downloading a few known files
• Skipping filters or customization
• Visual browsing by date

Steps:

1.   On the dataset landing page, click the HTTPS File System card.

2.   You’ll be taken to that dataset’s folder in the CMR Virtual Directory. Click Temporal.

3.   Browse by:

• Year → Month → Day → Files
• File counts appear in the left column

4.   Once you have navigated to your desired day, click any file link to download.

• You may be prompted to sign in with your Earthdata Login

Final Thoughts

The browser-based download methods described above provide convenient access to NSIDC DAAC data without coding. For more advanced needs, consider these alternatives:

• Programmatic Access: earthaccess Python library
• Command-Line Tools: cURL or wget with a .netrc file
• Data Transformation: NASA Harmony API
• Cloud-Based Workflows: Access data directly in AWS

Getting Help

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

• Contact NSIDC User Services at nsidc@nsidc.org
• Join the NASA Earthdata Forum to connect with other users and data experts
• Explore the NSIDC Help Center for additional guides and troubleshooting tips
• Visit the NSIDC Data Tutorials GitHub repository for code examples and advanced use cases