NSIDC – An Overview ASF-NSIDC UWG, June 2004

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June CIRES/NSIDC Started as WDC – Glaciology, 1976 NSIDC designated by NOAA, 1982 A unit within CIRES at CU Primary functions:  Acquire, archive and distribute data  Basic and applied research

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Core identity – “Snow and Ice” Sequence of value added activities based on cryospheric data. Data archive and distribution ResearchApplications Decisions

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Snow & Ice – Data, digital Data Ingest  Storage oDistribution Metadata Database Catalog

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Snow & Ice – Data, other Research results Historical data Photos Maps Taku, Alaska, 1929

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Snow & Ice -- Research Sensors & algorithms Understanding processes Modeling and applications

Part II: Activities at NSIDC Programs Research Supportive

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Programs at NSIDC Data management activities NASA NOAA NSF

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data management: NASA Distributed Active Archive Center A cryospheric focal point Data management User support Introduction to ECS

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data, value added Useful products Passive microwave  ice/snow extent  cloud discrimination, snow Sea ice Tools Swath to grid Subsetting and ordering Educational Web CD MODIS, March 22, Snow = red, cloud = blue.

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data management: NOAA World Data Center – Glaciology Core function since 1976 Facilitates access to international data NOAA at NSIDC Operational snow cover model output Sea ice index Historic photos and maps Gaining insight, NASA  NOAA shift for long-term data management NOAA at NSIDC

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data management: NSF IARC - Frozen Ground Data Center  Circumpolar Active-Layer Permafrost System (CAPS) CD-ROM  IPA Global Geocryological Data (GGD) system (metadata) ARCSS Data Coordination Center  Arctic System Science (ARCSS)  Data from NSF funded research

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data management: NSF, cont. Antarctic Glaciological Data Center  Data collected by the US Antarctic Program oPI contributed data oCompiled data sets U.S. Antarctic Data Coordination Center  Info to the Antarctic Master Directory of the Global Change Master Directory

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Data users, : Commercial Government K - 12 Other Research & Higher Ed As processed by User Services.

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Research at NSIDC Overview: 12 resident scientists Visiting scientists 35 grants NASA and NSF dominant

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Research: Cryosphere & climate Arctic climate Sea ice Data products for modeling  Water budget  Historic time series for the arctic Sea ice extent and concentration anomalies relative to September 2002September 2003

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Research: glaciers, sea ice, ice sheets Mega dunes Sea ice melt ponds Sensors & sea ice concentrations Glacier mass balance Antarctic mega dunes, field work Arctic sea ice break up Taku Glacier, 1929

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Research: Snow, permafrost, frozen ground Passive microwave  Snow water equiv.  Snow cover  Frozen ground Arctic hydrology & water budgets Cold lands processes  Surface to satellite scale Fresh crack in permafrost causing block disintegration, Kondratyeva. Photo courtesy of V. Rachold.

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Snow & Ice -- Applications Hydrologic models  Snow water equivalent  Frozen ground conditions Global warming impacts  Glacier mass balance  Monitoring ice sheets  Changes in permafrost extent Shift in format, as: binary  GIS Right: Larsen B ice shelf breakup captured by MODIS on 31 January, 23 February, & 07 March, MODIS images courtesy of NASA's Terra satellite, supplied by National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder.

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Snow & Ice -- Decisions Providing support to decision makers: Watershed level  Water availability  Flooding Global level  Glacier/ice melt contribution  Carbon release AMSR-E soil moisture data for the midwestern U.S. immediately following a large-scale thunderstorm in March 2004.

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Supportive: Metadata Metadata database Program needs Standards Catalog Long-term archive

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Supportive: Web Supports all of NSIDC 3500 Internet pages 1500 Intranet pages Primary Internet hits: All About Glaciers National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) All About Glaciers: Glossary, Gallery, Quick Facts, Q&A, and MoreAll About Glaciers: Glossary, Gallery, Quick Facts, Q&A, and More

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Web: Top user domain names Unknown = no IP address w/in 10 sec.

Part III: Restructuring Responding to growth Looking ahead

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Growth Staff: from 20 to 70 in 15 years  12 scientists  13 program/project  42 services (computer, data, writers,etc.)  5 administrative  5-10 students  2-5 visiting scientists

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Selected issues noted Unclear lines of authority & responsibility Tasks and priorities not coordinated Perception of low accountability Overlap of program and center level functions No short-term operational plan Center-wide strategic plan not well established

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Growth and restructuring External review panel Task Force for Restructuring Implementation Team Deputy Director hired Basic restructuring – Oct. 2003

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Revised reporting structure

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Matrix management

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Restructuring concerns Level of centralized management  Mix of defined scope & research  Balance control & flexibility Tracking/accountability  Scope definition  Univ. structure  OMB Circular A-21 Infrastructure  Plan/fund common support

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Looking ahead Identity  “Snow and Ice” Visibility  Scientific  Administrative Awareness of trends  Data management  Agency priorities

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Looking ahead, cont. Position to be competitive  The special “edge”  Flexibility to respond Maintaining funding  Changes in data mgt  More, moderate sized grants Vertical integration  Value added (if funds)

ASF-NSIDC User Working Group Meeting, June Questions? The Ross Ice Shelf at the Bay of Whales (source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce, Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA)