What Geophysical Data and Data Services Does EarthScope Consortium Provide?

Updated

EarthScope Consortium provides access to geophysical data and data products, operates continuous geophysical networks, supports project instrumentation, and delivers seismic waveform data through the SAGE facility. According to the consortium's site, it operates NSF's National Geophysical Facility (NGF), and the new NSF NGF site is now online as the entry point for exploring data, requesting equipment and field support, and finding training. If you want to know what is available before you request anything, the categories below are the practical starting map.

The main service areas

EarthScope's science support is organized into three areas listed on its site:

  • Instrumentation — continuous geophysical networks and project instrumentation support.
  • Data Services — access to geophysical data and data products.
  • Education — resources for education, outreach, and workforce development.

For a researcher, the first two are the operational core: one covers the instruments and networks that collect measurements, the other covers getting the resulting data and products into your hands.

Data access and products

Data Services is the route to geophysical data and data products. The site does not enumerate every dataset on the page, so the reliable next step is to go to the NSF NGF site linked from EarthScope and browse the data services there. Treat the consortium as the operator and gateway rather than a single download page — the specific holdings and request procedures live on the NGF site.

Seismic waveform data through SAGE

SAGE is the facility associated with seismic waveform data. EarthScope's impact section reports terabytes of SAGE seismic waveform data delivered for a recent quarter (July–September 2025), which confirms waveform delivery as an active, ongoing service rather than a static archive. If your work involves seismic waveforms, SAGE is the relevant facility to look for within the NGF structure.

Networks and instrumentation support

The Network of the Americas is named on the site as a GPS station network operated within EarthScope's scope, and the impact section tracks its station count. Beyond continuous networks, the consortium offers project instrumentation support — relevant if you need equipment and field support for a campaign rather than relying on existing stations. The site directs users to request equipment and field support through the NSF NGF site.

Where to start

  1. Go to the NSF NGF site linked from EarthScope (the "Visit the NSF NGF Website" link) — this is the current front door for data, equipment requests, and training.
  2. Choose your path: Data Services for data and data products, Instrumentation for network or project support, Education for training and workforce resources.
  3. For seismic waveforms specifically, look for SAGE within the NGF offerings.
  4. Check the Latest Geophysical Events and News sections if you want to see recent activity and service updates, such as the new how-to guides for managing software tools in GeoLab.

One caveat: the EarthScope page describes what the consortium does and points to the NGF site, but it does not list access conditions, account requirements, or costs for specific datasets. Confirm those on the NGF site before planning a request.