INTRODUCING THE MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
(MSFC) DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER (DAAC)

The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Distributed
Active Archive Center (DAAC) is one of eight data centers across
the United States.  These centers are part of the Earth Observing
System (EOS) Data and Information System (EOSDIS).  The
EOSDIS is an unprecedented project both in terms of the volume of
earth science data to be processed and in the sophistication of the
data distribution network.  The intent is to provide geophysical data
and products to the general scientific community quickly and easily.
Version 0 is currently operational and focuses on existing data sets.
Version 1 and following versions will add future data sources such
as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission observatory and the
Earth Observing System AM and PM satellites.

The MSFC DAAC is known as the HYDROLOGIC CYCLE DAAC
because our data holdings are primarily aimed at researchers
investigating facets of the hydrologic cycle.  We will, however,
provide data to researchers in other disciplines desiring to use the
data.   While our intent is to provide data for all aspects of the
hydrologic cycle, our holdings at present are primarily limited to the
atmospheric component of the cycle.  We are, however, seeking to
expand our surface hydrology data sets.  If you wish to recommend
any data sets for archival and distribution by the MSFC DAAC,
please contact the User Services office at the address given below.

DATA AVAILABILITY

All data is provided FREE  OF CHARGE.  In addition to the short
descriptions below, additional information about our data can be
found at:

MOSAIC/World Wide Web:

MSFC DAAC Home Page
      http://wwwdaac.msfc.nasa.gov

Global Change Master Directory Home Page
      http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov
     (search on data center = msfc daac)

TELNET:

Global Change Master Directory
     telnet gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov
        username: gcdir
     (search on data center = msfc daac)

E-MAIL:

MSFC DAAC User Services Office
     msfc@eos.nasa.gov

SSM/I NOAA/NASA Pathfinder Products:  These products include
antenna temperatures from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager
(SSM/I) instrument on DMSP satellite F-8 and geophysical products
derived from them.  The initial period processed is from August 1,
1987 to November 30, 1988.  The current products include
precipitation rate, water vapor and cloud water content.  Land
surface type and temperature are to be completed by the end of
September.  Processing of additional time periods is planned for
1995.  The data are  in 'swath', i.e. instrument field of view, format
with gridded (1 deg by 1 deg lat/lon) monthly and pentad (5 day)
averages to be completed in 1994.

TOVS NOAA/NASA Pathfinder Path C1 Products:  These products
include geophysical products derived from antenna temperatures
from the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) instrument which is part
of the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) aboard NOAA's
TIROS-N series of satellites.  The geophysical products include daily
gridded estimates of deep layer atmospheric temperatures (lower
troposphere, upper troposphere (tropics only) and lower stratosphere)
and oceanic precipitation for the period January 1, 1979 to December
31, 1993. A specialized product which includes daily, pentad (5 day)
and monthly gridded values of temperatures/precipitation, standard
deviation and counts which have been binned by ascending and
descending orbits is available for the period August 1, 1987 to
December 31, 1988.

SSM/I Antenna Temperatures and Sensor Counts:  SSM/I antenna
temperatures processed by Remote Sensing Systems (F. Wentz) are
available for DMSP F-8 for the period July 1987 to December 1991
and for  DMSP F-10 for the period December 1990 to December
1991.  NESDIS Level 1b Sensor Counts (and software for computing
antenna or brightness temperatures) are available for DMSP F-8
(February 1992 to July 1994), DMSP F-10 (June 1992 to present)
and DMSP F-11 (April 1992 to present). Subsets of the NESDIS
Level 1b Sensor Counts over the TOGA COARE research area are
also available.

Climatological Summaries:  The MSFC DAAC also has a variety of
rainfall estimate (from satellite data) and surface measurement data
sets.

For further information or to order data, contact.

     MSFC DAAC User Services Office
     NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
     Building 4492
     Huntsville, AL 35803
     phone: 205-544-6329
     fax:      205-544-5147
     e-mail: msfc@eos.nasa.gov


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