Welcome to the National Snow & 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
Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis
September 14, 2023
Rounding the curve
Both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice appear to be heading toward their respective seasonal limits, reaching the lowest extent at the end of summer in the north, and the highest extent as winter ends in the south. In the Antarctic, … Continue reading

Most recent data announcements

Due to planned maintenance aboard the SMAP spacecraft today September 14, 2023 data loss and latency impact are expected while the instrument is in safe-mode. Operations are estimated to resume as

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.
Billy Adams observes the environment from the ice lead edge near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. This photo is part of an observation record in the AAOKH online database developed by ELOKA. Credit: Mette Kaufman

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.