Atmospheric Technology Division

Atmospheric Technology Division
Name	Atmospheric Technology Division
Type	Research division
Parent organization	National Center for Atmospheric Research

Atmospheric Technology Division. A premier research and development unit within the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), focused on creating advanced observational tools and systems for atmospheric science. The division designs, engineers, and deploys sophisticated instruments and platforms that enable groundbreaking research into weather, climate, and atmospheric processes. Its work is fundamental to the missions of NCAR and the broader United States scientific community, providing critical data to universities, government agencies, and international partners.

History and Background

The origins are deeply intertwined with the establishment of the National Center for Atmospheric Research itself in the 1960s, under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation. Early efforts concentrated on developing radar systems and weather balloons to probe the upper atmosphere. A significant milestone was the creation of the first S-band research radar, which evolved into the cornerstone of the national NEXRAD network. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the division expanded its portfolio under directors like Walter Orr Roberts, pioneering work in airborne instrumentation and contributing to major field campaigns such as the Global Atmospheric Research Program. This era solidified its reputation as the primary facility for providing the United States research community with complex, shared-use observational facilities.

Research and Development Activities

Core activities span the entire lifecycle of atmospheric observing systems, from conceptual design to field deployment and data analysis. Engineers and scientists conduct cutting-edge research in remote sensing, developing new applications for lidar, radar, and spectroscopy. A major focus is the operation and enhancement of the NSF-funded Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities, which include the S-Pol radar and the HIAPER aircraft. The division also leads in the development of unmanned aerial systems, such as the Gulfstream V, for high-altitude sampling. Research directly supports investigations into severe storms, climate change, atmospheric chemistry, and solar-terrestrial interactions, providing tools for projects like RELAMPAGO-CACTI and studies of the Pacific Ocean's influence on weather patterns.

Key Technologies and Instruments

The division maintains and advances a suite of world-class technologies. Its radar systems are renowned, including the advanced S-PolKa dual-polarization radar and mobile C-band units used in projects like VORTEX2. The HIAPER aircraft is a heavily-modified Gulfstream V equipped with in-situ probes and remote sensors for global atmospheric sampling. Significant instruments also include the Water Vapor DIAL lidar for measuring humidity profiles, the CHILL radar for cloud microphysics studies, and a fleet of radiosondes and weather balloons. Development continues on miniaturized sensors for use on unmanned aerial vehicles and networks of autonomous ground-based observatories.

Major Projects and Missions

The division's instruments are central to numerous landmark scientific campaigns. It played a pivotal role in the Front Range Observational Network Testbed (FRONT) experiment and the international TOGA COARE project over the western Pacific Ocean. More recently, facilities were deployed for the ORACLES mission to study biomass burning aerosols over the Atlantic Ocean and the SNOWIE project investigating cloud seeding. The division also provides critical support for long-term monitoring efforts, such as those at the ARM Climate Research Facility sites and contributes to the development of the next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) series algorithms.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The division is an integral component of NCAR, which is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). It is typically organized into several technical groups or laboratories specializing in areas like radar systems, airborne operations, and engineering development. Leadership has historically included notable figures from the atmospheric sciences community, with directors often being appointed from the ranks of senior scientists or engineers with extensive field campaign experience. The division works closely with other NCAR labs, such as the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Laboratory and the Climate and Global Dynamics Division, to align technological capabilities with scientific priorities set by the National Science Foundation and the broader research community.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaboration is fundamental to its mission, extending far beyond NCAR. The division maintains strong partnerships with federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Energy. It works extensively with the U.S. Air Force and the Naval Research Laboratory on specialized sensing applications. Internationally, it collaborates on projects with entities like the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Met Office, and research institutions across Asia and South America. The division also supports hundreds of university researchers annually, providing them with access to its facilities through proposals reviewed by the National Science Foundation.

Category:National Center for Atmospheric Research Category:Atmospheric research organizations Category:Scientific organizations based in the United States