Global climate modeling systems are the essential tools that provide climate projections. Observations play an essential role in the development and evaluation of these climate modeling systems. In particular, observations from satellite platforms often provide a global depiction of the climate system that is uniquely suited for these purposes.  The initial goal of the Observations for Model Intercomparison Projects (Obs4MIPs), launched by NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is to better exploit existing satellite measurements by making them more accessible for research involving the fifth phase of the World Climate Research Pro- gramme’s (WCRP) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5)1. CMIP5 specifies a series of standard experimental protocols that facilitate the community- based study of coupled Earth system model simula- tions, and has been a centralizing resource for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group I contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC WGI AR5) and Summary for Policy Makers.