GES DISC Data List Enables Easy Data Selection for Natural Phenomena Studies

In order to investigate and assess natural hazards such as tropical storms, winter storms, volcanic eruptions, floods, and drought in a timely manner, the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) has been developing an efficient data search and access service. Called “Data List,” this service enables users to acquire their data of interest “all at once,” with minimum effort. A Data List is a virtual collection of predefined or user-defined data variables from one or more archived data sets. Data Lists are more than just data. Data Lists effectively provide users with a sophisticated integrated data and services package, including metadata, citation, documentation, visualization, and data-specific services (e.g., subset and OPeNDAP), all available from one-stop shopping. The predefined Data Lists, created by the experienced GES DISC science support team, should save a significant amount of time that users would otherwise have to spend. The Data List service is an extension of the GES DISC Unified User Interface (UUI), which is completely data-driven. A Data list, also known as “data bundle,” is treated just as any other data set. Being a virtual collection, a Data List requires no extra storage space.