Usability in ESS Data Cubes and Cloud Computing: Challenges to Converge in a Landscape of Diverse Solutions

Abstract

Cloud computing is increasingly vital in Earth System Sciences (ESS), but users face challenges due to a fragmented landscape of platforms, steep learning curves, and poor interoperability across tools and data. Despite numerous efforts - such as those from ESA and the Open Geospatial Consortium - to consolidate and standardize solutions, creating interoperable, end-to-end workflows remains complex and inconsistent across cloud based Research Data Infrastructures (RDIs). This contribution shares our experience in addressing these challenges in developing user-friendly ESS computing services, emphasizing the need for common standards and integration.