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satellite image of dust in the atmosphere
image of aerosol data
image of VIIRS atmosphere data

LAADS DAAC

Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System Distributed Active Archive Center

The Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive & Distribution System Distributed Active Archive Center (LAADS DAAC) primarily archives and distributes data on clouds, water vapor, and aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere, as well as key instrument data for NASA, NOAA, and European Space Agency missions.

Sources of data at LAADS DAAC are the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra and Aqua platforms, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP and the Joint Polar Satellite System satellites, and NASA airborne data. Other sources include the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) on the European Space Agency’s Envisat and the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on Copernicus-Sentinel-3.

As one of twelve DAACs within the NASA Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), managed by the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) project, LAADS DAAC provides a gateway to data through multiple tools. 

For more information on DAACs and where the LAADS DAAC falls within the NASA Earthdata ecosystem, please visit EOSDIS.

map of the United States showing the location of LAADS DAAC in Washington, DC

Our Mission

The primary mission of the LAADS DAAC is to archive and distribute MODIS science data products and NASA versions of VIIRS science data products to the global Earth science research and applications community. Our focus is on level 1 calibrated and geolocated moderate resolution instrument data and level 2 and 3 atmosphere products. The two MODIS instruments are onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. The three current VIIRS instruments are onboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite and the NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 (formerly named JPSS-1 and -2) satellites.

LAADS DAAC also distributes other moderate resolution science datasets, including the European Space Agency's (ESA) Envisat Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and Copernicus-Sentinel-3 Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (and OLCI) collections. In addition, we archive and distribute the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) and Autonomous Modular Sensor (AMS) airborne collections, and other NASA datasets. We also serve as a secondary DAAC for distributing MODIS and VIIRS land products.

The LAADS DAAC keeps its user community up to date on all data product information—including known issues that affect product quality—and provides tools and services to improve data use and understanding.

close up of Earth focused on the Atlantic Ocean showing dust in the atmosphere

This image shows a “Godzilla” dust storm that travelled across the Pacific Ocean from the western Sahara in summer 2020. The image features near real-time VIIRS Corrected Reflectance (True Color) daily imagery. Credit: NASA SVS

LAADS DAAC History

The LAADS DAAC was established in 2007 to distribute MODIS Level-1 and atmospheric science products produced by the MODIS Adaptive Processing System (MODAPS), one of the Science Investigator-led Processing Systems (SIPS). The LAADS DAAC is co-located with MODAPS at GSFC, and the two entities share common software, hardware, network infrastructure, and support staff.

More About MODAPS

The MODAPS SIPS processes data from both MODIS instruments on NASA's Terra and Aqua platforms. MODAPS provides an architectural framework that has spawned other production systems that are part of the LAADS DAAC. Land SIPS is one such production facility that, in late 2016, began producing and distributing NASA standard versions of the Suomi NPP VIIRS Level-1 and Land science data products. 

The LAADS DAAC archives and distributes these products, as well as VIIRS atmosphere products from the Atmosphere SIPS located at the Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Another example of a MODAPS-inspired framework involves the production of MODIS and VIIRS Near-Real-Time products as part of NASA’s Land, Atmosphere Near-real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE) program.

MODAPS process diagram

The diagram above provides a synoptic view of MODAPS as a central data provider, whose evolving SIPS components support and sustain both Level-1 and higher-level atmosphere and land data processing requirements for LAADS and its various NASA stakeholders. 

The EOS Data Operations System (EDOS) processes the raw satellite instrument data into Level-0 raw instrument packets that are used to produce Level-1 calibrated and geolocated radiance data. MODAPS generates MODIS-derived Level-1, atmosphere, land and cryosphere products. The Land SIPS produces VIIRS-derived Level-1, land and cryosphere products. 

Three entities closely collaborate with all MODAPS elements to ensure the quality and fidelity of all the operationally produced standard and NRT products. They include the Land Data Operational Products Evaluation (LDOPE) team, the Science Data Support Team (SDST), and the MODIS and VIIRS Characterization Support Teams (MCST/VCST). The bottom of the diagram identifies six stakeholders, including:

Who are our data users?

We provide data products, services, and tools to support a large global user community that includes applied scientists, researchers, modelers, algorithm developers, other data providers, educators, and novices.

Meet our User Working Group to learn more about how we strive to improve LAADS DAAC through its products and tools portfolios, effective communications, and user community support.

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We are proud to be a CoreTrustSeal Certified Repository. CoreTrustSeal is an international, community based, non-governmental, and non-profit organization promoting sustainable and trustworthy data infrastructures.

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