Who We Are
We are the Nation’s leading authority for environmental data and manage one of the largest archives of atmospheric, coastal, geophysical, and oceanic research in the world. NCEI contributes to the NESDIS mission by developing new products and services that span the science disciplines and enable better data discovery.
Why It Matters
NCEI helps NOAA meet the growing need for high value data by supporting projects such as the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, NOAA's Blue Economy, and Climate-Ready Nation Initiatives. Our stewardship practices maximize NOAA’s investment in environmental research, converting scientific insights into dynamic, usable information that informs strategy and decision-making in government, academia, and the private sector.
As the Nation’s treasure of Earth observations grows, our scientists ensure that analyses, methods, and data sets evolve along with that growth. Our engagement professionals ensure partner agencies and the public get usable information they need when they need it.
Together with our data providers, data users, and our partners, NCEI builds and draws lasting value from NOAA and the world's observations from the seafloor to the surface of the sun. Our work informs a nation that is more prosperous, more resilient, and more just.
Data in Action
NCEI data helps businesses and organizations across sectors operate more efficiently, safely, environmentally, and economically.
Data Management
The NCEI archive and backup copy contains more than 55 petabytes of data.
Industry and Agriculture
U.S. corn farmers used our temperature and precipitation data to strategically deploy fertilizer, saving the industry about $4 billion annually.

Case Studies
Leadership
Locations
NCEI has four national locations, as well as regional centers, field sites, and cooperative institutes throughout the country.
Asheville, North Carolina
Boulder, Colorado
Silver Spring, Maryland
Stennis Space Center, MS

Learn More
News
There’s a lot going on at NCEI! Visit our news page to learn more about our organization and the Earth’s climate, oceans, coasts, and geophysics.
World Data System at NCEI
NCEI hosts World Data Centers and Services as a member of the ICSU World Data System, a collaborative effort to ensure universal, equitable access to environmental data around the world.
NCEI Cooperative Institutes
NOAA partners with academic and nonprofit institutions throughout the country to conduct collaborative research, connect with scientific communities, and sponsor student fellowships.