The World Data Center for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, WDC-RSAT, offers scientists and the general public free access (in the sense of a “one-stop shop”) to a continuously growing collection of atmosphere-related satellite-based data sets (ranging from raw to value added data), information products and services. Focus is on atmospheric trace gases, aerosols, dynamics, radiation, and cloud physical parameters. Complementary information and data on surface parameters (e.g. vegetation index, surface temperatures) is also provided. This is achieved either by giving access to data stored at the data center or by acting as a portal containing links to other providers.
Since 2003 the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) hosts and operates the WDC-RSAT under the nongovernmental auspices of the International Council for Science (ICSU). As part of the family of the ICSU-World Data Services, WDC-RSAT is by definition integrated and linked to other WDC’s worldwide. Especially, the German ICSU WDC’s (WDC-Climate, WDC-Mare, WDC-Terra, and WDC-RSAT) have formed in 2004 the “WDC-Cluster on Earth System Research” in order to promote interdisciplinary research related to Earth sciences.
Read more: WDC-RSAT
