CISL's mission is to support and advance the Earth system sciences by providing world-class computing environments, data services, and research in computational science.

The director's office works to ensure that scientists have the resources and services they need to pursue their research into the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor and atmosphere to the Sun's core.

The NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the Mesa Lab on Table Mesa in Boulder, Colorado, attract professional visitors, students, tourists and members of their local communities.