Cryospheric products from earth observing system satellites at the national snow and ice data center

Abstract

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado, Boulder archives and distributes several products from sensors on NASA's Terra, Aqua, and ICES at platforms within the Earth Observing System (EOS) suite. A wide range of products, data resolutions, and grids supports decision-makers at all levels in a variety of disciplines. NSIDC scientists are also developing a variety of research products to complement the standard data sets distributed by the data center. These EOS sensors substantially enhance our ability to observe the cryosphere. GLAS represents an entirely new type of sensor for the cryosphere, while AMSR-E and MODIS offer significant improvements over their earlier generations. The products from these sensors, combined with NSIDC's other data sets, are a valuable resource for the investigation of regional and global climate issues and should yield new insights into the cryospheric system in support of NASA's efforts to understand and protect our home planet