Distributed Active Archive Center
Encyclopedia
The Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC) are part of NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). DAACs process, archive, document, and distribute data from NASA's past and current Earth Observing System
(EOS) satellites and field measurement programs. Each of the 12 data centers serves one or more specific Earth science disciplines and provides its user community with data products, data information, user services, and tools unique to its particular science.
Earth Observing System
The Earth Observing System is a program of NASA comprising a series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans of the Earth. The satellite component of the program was...
(EOS) satellites and field measurement programs. Each of the 12 data centers serves one or more specific Earth science disciplines and provides its user community with data products, data information, user services, and tools unique to its particular science.
List of data centers and data specialization
- Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF): Synthetic Aperture RadarSynthetic aperture radarSynthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
(SAR) data, sea iceSea iceSea ice is largely formed from seawater that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs below the freezing point of pure water, at about -1.8 °C ....
, polar processes, geophysicsGeophysicsGeophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
. - Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS): Space geodesy.
- Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC): hydrologic cycle, severe weatherSevere weatherSevere weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
interactions, lightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, atmospheric convectionAtmospheric convectionAtmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
. - Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC): global precipitation, solar irradiance, atmospheric composition, atmospheric dynamics, global modeling.
- Land Processes DAAC (LP DAAC): surface reflectance, land coverLand CoverLand cover is the physical material at the surface of the earth. Land covers include grass, asphalt, trees, bare ground, water, etc. There are two primary methods for capturing information on land cover: field survey and analysis of remotely sensed imagery....
, vegetation indices. - Level 1 Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System (MODAPS LAADS): radiance, atmosphere.
- NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LaRC ASDC): radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, tropospheric chemistry.
- National Snow and Ice Data CenterNational Snow and Ice Data CenterThe National Snow and Ice Data Center, or NSIDC, is a United States information and referral center in support of polar and cryospheric research...
(NSIDC): snow, ice, cryosphere, climate. - Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAACOak Ridge National Laboratory DAACThe Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center for biogeochemical dynamics is one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Earth Observing System Data and Information System data centers managed by the Earth Science Data and Information System Project , which...
(ORNL DAAC): biogeochemical dynamics, ecological data, environmental processes. - Ocean Biology Processing Group: ocean biology, ocean color, ocean biogeochemistry, sea surface temperature.
- Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO DAAC): sea surface temperature, ocean winds, circulation and currents, topography and gravity.
- Socioeconomic Data and Applications Data Center (SEDAC): human interactions, land use, environmental sustainability, geospatial data, multilateral environmental agreements.