An Overview of the EOS Data Distribution Systems

Abstract

The Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is the ­primary data system serving the broad scope of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) program and a significant portion of the “heritage” Earth science data. EOSDIS was designed to support the Earth sciences within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (previously the Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) and Mission to Planet Earth). The EOS Program was NASA’s contribution to the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) enacted by Congress in 1990 as part of the Global Change Act. ESE’s objective was to launch a series of missions to help answer fundamental global change questions such as “How is Earth changing?” and “What are the consequences for life on Earth?” As part of supporting that objective, EOSDIS distributes a wide variety of data to a diverse user ­community (Fig. 9.1)