EOSDIS and Support for Earth Science Modeling

The Earth Observation System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is a large, complex data system currently supporting over 18 operational NASA satellite missions including the flagship EOS missions: Terra, Aqua, and Aura. The observations collected by these missions are kept at geographically distributed data centers. An important effort for these data centers is feeding data to the science modeling communities and together feeding decision support systems. The EOSDIS project provides several infrastructure components to facilitate the use of data in models. This includes methods for aggregate data ordering, support for standardization of data structures and systems, interdisciplinary science support, and other user services. At this time, there is a rudimentary framework in place for facilitating support for multi-disciplinary global modeling. While there has been much progress in getting data from missions into models, there is room for improvement and challenges to overcome. Topics of this paper include the key areas where modelers' have problems utilizing EOS datasets and effective ways for the modelling community to influence data center services and science data products.