Abstract
An international data archive is critical for understanding the climate system dynamics of the cryosphere. Currently, no such system exists though data collection and integration efforts are ongoing. The Cryosphere Data Archive Partnership (CrDAP) is developing an open system for storing cryospheric observation data and metadata. First stage data handling in CrDAP focused on integrating point observational and photographic data. The metadata structure of CrDAP was extended based on ISO 19115, which is a geographic information metadata standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).