Visualize and download NSIDC DAAC data with NASA Worldview

NASA Worldview uses the Global Imagery Browse Service (GIBS) to provide up to date, full resolution imagery for select NSIDC DAAC data sets (see attachments below). The map interface allows users to interactively browse imagery, create visualizations, and download the underlying data. This article demonstrates how to perform these tasks with SMAP soil moisture data over the Western United States. 

Step 1: Access NASA Worldview

Go to https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/ 

Step 2: Search for and add data to Worldview

From the interface, click on the +Add Layers button. In the search bar, type the data set or science topic of interest. For example, "soil moisture" will return several soil moisture related data sets. Multiple filter options are also available on the left side of the search window. Click on the Soil Moisture 9 km (L3, Passive, Day) and Soil Moisture 9 km (L3, Passive, Night) data sets. Additional data set information is also displayed on the right side of the search window. 

 

Step 3: Focus on an area of interest and visualize a time series

Zoom into the Western United States and turn on the Coastlines / Borders / Roads overlay for reference. Base layers and overlays can be turned on or off by selecting the eye icon and re-arranged by dragging them up or down. Next, either by clicking within or moving the slider icon in the time scale, or by adjusting the year, month and date specifically, choose a date of interest to view that day’s imagery. To view a time series, click on the camera icon and select a date range. Click Play video to view the animation. 

 

Step 4: Create and download an animated .GIF and/or a screenshot

Click on the Create Animated GIF button and adjust the animation settings as needed. Click on Create GIF to view the animation results and then choose Download.

 

Click on the Take a snapshot icon and adjust settings to download a screenshot.

 

Step 5: Download underlying SMAP data

Click on the Data tab in the table of contents, select the file shown for the currently set date, and choose Download Data. Mulitple days of data can be added by changing the date and selecting the file for a given date. The number of Selected files, displayed beside the data set name, will update as well as the size reported on the Download Data button as more files are selected. An Earthdata Login is required to download data, which can be obtained at at https://urs.earthdata.nasa.gov

 

For more information about NASA Worldview, click on the information icon in the upper right corner on the map interface.

AMSR-E GIBS data

Data setData set parameterGIBS parameter

AE_L2A

89.0H_Res.5B_TB_(not-resampled)Brightness Temperature (89H GHz B Scan, Day)
89.0H_Res.5B_TB_(not-resampled)Brightness Temperature (89H GHz B Scan, Night)
89.0V_Res.5B_TB_(not-resampled)Brightness Temperature (89V GHz B Scan, Day)
89.0V_Res.5B_TB_(not-resampled)Brightness Temperature (89V GHz B Scan, Night)

AE_SI6

SI_06km_NH_89H_DAY, SI_06km_SH_89H_DAYSea Ice Brightness Temperature (89H GHz B Scan)
SI_06km_NH_89V_DAY, SI_06km_SH_89V_DAYSea Ice Brightness Temperature (89V GHz B Scan)

AE_SI12

SI_12km_NH_ICECON_DAY, SI_12km_SH_ICECON_DAYSea Ice Concentration, 12km
SI_12km_NH_SNOWDEPTH_5DAY, SI_12km_SH_SNOWDEPTH_5DAYSnow Depth Over Ice, 12km
AE_SI25SI_25km_NH_ICECON_DAY, SI_25km_SH_ICECON_DAYSea Ice Concentration, 25km

AE_Rain

surfaceRainSurface Rain Rate (Day)
surfaceRainSurface Rain Rate (Night)
surfacePrecipitationSurface Precipitation Rate (Day)
surfacePrecipitationSurface Precipitation Rate (Night)

Aquarius GIBS data

Data set

Data set parameter

GIBS parameter

AQ3_DYSM

I3m_data

Soil Moisture (Daily, Radiometer

AQ3_WKSM

I3m_data

Soil Moisture (Weekly, Radiometer

MEaSUREs GIBS data

Data setData set parameterGIBS parameter
nsidc-0477FT_statusFreeze/Thaw (Daily Landscape)
nsidc-0478 Ice Velocity (Greenland)
nsidc-0484 Ice Velocity (Antarctica)
nsidc-0534 Sea Ice and Snow Extent

MODIS GIBS data

Data setsData set parameterGIBS parameter
MOD10_L2 & MYD10_L2NDSI_Snow_CoverSnow Cover (Normalized Difference Snow
Index)
MOD10A1 & MYD10A1NDSI_Snow_Cover

Snow Cover (Normalized Difference Snow Index, L3, Daily)

MOD10A2 & MYD10A2Maximum_Snow_ExtentSnow Extent (L3, 8-Day)
MOD10CM & MYD10CMSnow_Cover_Monthly_CMG

Days with Snow Cover (L3, Monthly, Average Percent)

MOD29 & MYD29Sea_Ice_by_Reflectance
Ice_Surface_Temperature
Sea Ice, Ice Surface Temperature (Day),
and Ice Surface Temperature (Night)
MOD29P1N & MYD29P1NIce_Surface_TemperatureIce Surface Temperature (L3, Daily, Night)

 

SMAP GIBS data

Data setData set parameterGIBS parameter

SPL1CTB_E

cell_tb_h_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km (L1, Passive, Fore, H Polarization)

cell_tb_h_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km (L1, Passive, Aft, H Polarization)

cell_tb_v_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km (L1, Passive, Fore, V Polarization)

cell_tb_v_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km (L1, Passive, Aft, V Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km RFI (L1, Passive, Fore, H Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km RFI (L1, Passive, Aft, H Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_v_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km RFI (L1, Passive, Fore, V Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_v_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km RFI (L1, Passive, Aft, V Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km QA (L1, Passive, Fore, H Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km QA (L1, Passive, Aft, H Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_v_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km QA (L1, Passive, Fore, V Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_v_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 9 km QA (L1, Passive, Aft, V Polarization)

SPL1CTB

cell_tb_h_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km (L1, Passive, Fore, H Polarization)

cell_tb_h_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km (L1, Passive, Aft, H Polarization)

cell_tb_v_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km (L1, Passive, Fore, V Polarization)

cell_tb_v_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km (L1, Passive, Aft, V Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_fore

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km RFI (L1, Passive, Fore, H Polarization)

cell_tb_qual_flag_h_aft

Uncorrected Brightness Temperature 36 km RFI (L1, Passive, Aft, H Polarization)