1. NSIDC DAAC OVERVIEW Roger Barry NSIDC Director & DAAC Scientist Mission Statement “NSIDC/WDC will make fundamental contributions to cryospheric science and will excel in managing data and disseminating information in order to advance understanding of the Earth system.”

2. Cryospheric science is strongly interdisciplinary. The WCRP recognizes that the cryosphere is a missing component of its structure. A new WCRP “Cryosphere and Climate” project is proposed. SCOPE

3. NSIDC: a Unique U.S. Focal Point for Snow and Ice Information WDC-A for Glaciology 1957 established with other WDCs 1976 relocated to University of Colorado with NOAA support 1978/9 inventories of snow and sea ice data, ice cores NSIDC 1982 title from NOAA 1983 multi-agency funding began 1984 first computer system 1987 Cryospheric Data Management System established for SSM/I project 1990 First CD-ROM 1990 EOS IDS proposal (Polar climate/cryosphere) led to POLES participation and invitation for DAAC proposal DAAC 1991 Snow and Ice DAAC established

4. Highlights of Achievements Products SMMR/SSM-IAVHRR Polar Data EASE-Grid DataNISE SSM/I Related Science arctic sea ice reductions 1990, 1993, 1995 role of cyclone activity in sea ice decrease first mapping of global sea ice motion Greenland ablation trend and Pinatubo accumulation trend in NE Greenland Web Distribution & Home Page IST Liaisons MODISGLAS ASTER (GLIMS)AMSR IDS and related Science Liasion Polar Pathfinders POLES CRYSYS

5. Future Directions 1998-MODIS Snow and Sea Ice Products -validation data sets (non-EOS) 1998/99-incorporate completed Polar Pathfinder Data sets -ASTER (GLIMS) glacier products -address near-real time data needs (NISE, MODIS-Snow) -interact with climate assessment community 2000-value added products -blended sensor and in situ data -tailored for education sector and public -support/develop data assimilation -strengthen international linkages -Russian EOSDIS node -WCRP components

6. Science Guidance for NSIDC and DAAC