May 2026: NSF Reaffirms Commitment to Long-Term Preservation and Access of Arctic Research Data
This month, we are celebrating the recent renewal of funding from NSF for 5 additional years of Arctic Data Center support. Alongside maintaining core operations, the Center will expand support for large datasets and AI-ready data, collaborate with the Arctic research community to develop data stories and portals for broader sharing and impact, and continue advancing open Arctic science infrastructure.
Focus Areas
Recent Datasets
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Glaciology
Miller et al., 2026. This dataset contains radiocarbon-dated vegetation samples preserved beneath the Barnes Ice Cap that record the timing of late Holocene ice expansion and recent retreat.
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Oceanography
Vavrus, 2026. This dataset contains model output and analysis scripts from CESM2-LE simulations used to investigate projected winter climate change in the Pacific Arctic under future greenhouse warming scenarios.
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Physical Geography
Brinkerhoff, 2026. This dataset contains observations, model inputs, and uncertainty-constrained simulations used to project the future evolution and mass loss of Sít’ Tlein under different climate scenarios.
Updates and Opportunities
2026 Community Survey Results
To better understand the emerging needs of the Arctic research community, the Arctic Data Center launched its 2026 Community Survey, inviting anyone who works with Arctic data to share their experiences, challenges, and priorities. This blog post features feedback from the survey and our plan for improvements.
Dataset Highlight
Our newest Dataset Highlight features an interview with Dr. Clare Gaffey on her research exploring Arctic Ocean conditions by combining satellite remote sensing, model outputs, and cruise-collected water and ice samples.
Collaborator Highlight
Our latest Collaborator Highlight features the Arctic Report Card, an annual report led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that informs the general public about recent environmental changes across the Arctic, from the sea ice, weather patterns, snow cover, and more.
Data Science Training Resources
The Arctic Data Center hosts annual data science trainings focused on programming in R and Python, reproducible practices, data management, and more. All curricula for our courses are openly available on our website for self-learning. Check it out here!