Latin American Network of Atmospheric Sciences

Latin American Network of Atmospheric Sciences
Name	Latin American Network of Atmospheric Sciences
Abbreviation	LANNAS
Formation	2000s
Type	International scientific network
Region served	Latin America and Caribbean
Languages	Spanish, Portuguese, English
Leader title	Director

Latin American Network of Atmospheric Sciences The Latin American Network of Atmospheric Sciences is a regional scientific consortium linking atmospheric research institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean, fostering collaborative studies on meteorology, climate, air quality, and atmospheric chemistry. It unites university departments, national meteorological services, research centers and observatories to coordinate field campaigns, modeling, observational networks and capacity building across diverse environments from the Andes to the Amazon and Caribbean basins. The network supports policy-relevant science for regional stakeholders and connects to global programs to advance understanding of atmospheric processes affecting Latin America.

History and Foundation

The network was initiated through dialogues among researchers from Universidad de São Paulo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Costa Rica with support from organizations such as the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Early formative meetings involved delegations from Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrologia (Venezuela), and Serviço Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina), inspired by initiatives like the Global Atmosphere Watch and the GEWEX projects. Founding workshops referenced programs at Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, and funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and European Commission. The network’s early projects were coordinated with regional policy forums including the Pan American Health Organization and CELAC meetings.

Organization and Membership

Membership comprises universities, national meteorological and hydrological services, research institutes, and observatories such as Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio, Instituto de Pesquisas Hidroviárias, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Instituto Boliviano de Ciencia y Tecnología, Instituto Meteorológico Nacional de Costa Rica, Instituto Geofísico del Perú, Instituto Meteorológico de Cuba, and Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Mexico). Governance structures draw on models from World Meteorological Organization regional associations and boards like International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme councils, with steering committees and scientific advisory panels including representatives from Universidad de la República (Uruguay), Universidad de Panamá, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (collaborative link), and research centers such as Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC). Funding partners include multilateral entities like the Inter-American Development Bank, foundations such as the Tinker Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and national science agencies like CONICET, CONACYT (Mexico), FAPESP, and FONDECYT.

Research Programs and Projects

Research themes include aerosol–cloud interactions examined alongside projects from AmazonFACE and collaborations with RAPID, atmospheric chemistry studies linked to INOE groups, monsoon and precipitation research related to NAME and AMMA, and air quality initiatives aligned with Clean Air Initiative frameworks. Projects have addressed biomass burning with coordination from Global Fire Monitoring Center and SERVIR, urban air pollution in megacities like Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Mexico City, and Lima, and mountain meteorology in the Andes with ties to International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Mount Rainer Observatory comparative studies, and Hypoxia Research Center collaborations. The network contributes to model intercomparison projects akin to CMIP and regional climate downscaling similar to CORDEX, participating in interdisciplinary efforts with IPCC authors, Sacha Scientific Center teams, and initiatives from PAGES and SPARC.

Observational Networks and Infrastructure

The network coordinates observational infrastructure including ground-based stations, radiosonde launches, remote sensing sites, and flux towers modeled after FLUXNET and AERONET, with observatories in the Amazon Rainforest, Patagonia, Atacama Desert, Galápagos Islands, and Caribbean islands. Instrumentation networks integrate lidar systems from National Institute for Space Research (INPE), aerosol samplers used by Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, and surface air quality monitors comparable to AirNow deployments. Satellite collaborations leverage data from NOAA satellites, European Space Agency missions like Sentinel, NASA programs including Aqua and Terra, and regional radar networks modeled after Latin American Radar Network prototypes. Long-term monitoring sites coordinate with IAGOS and ICOS-like standards to support atmospheric trace gas and greenhouse gas flux measurements.

Education, Training, and Capacity Building

Training programs include graduate workshops, short courses, and summer schools run jointly with International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Met Office training centers, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research programs, and regional universities such as Universidad de Antioquia and Universidad Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Capacity building partnerships involve RedCLARA for e‑infrastructure, training exchanges with CERNSchool-style summer programs, and scholarship schemes supported by Fulbright-type arrangements and regional fellowships from CELADE-linked agencies. The network organizes teacher training and policy briefings engaging Ministries of Environment equivalents in member states, and hosts hackathons with partners like DataONE and OpenAIRE.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Strategic partnerships connect the network to global programs and institutes including WMO, UNEP, IPCC, NOAA, NASA, ESA, ECMWF, NCAR, ILRS, IAGA, ICSU-historical links, and regional bodies like OAS, Mercosur, and CARICOM. Research collaborations extend to laboratories such as Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, CSIRO, Riken, CICERO, Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Project partners, and networks like GEOSS and GCOS. Industry and NGO partnerships include environmental NGOs such as Conservation International, WWF, and private sector collaborations with technology firms modeled on IBM Research and remote sensing companies like Planet Labs.

Impact, Achievements, and Future Directions

The network has contributed to regional assessments informing IPCC reports, national air quality regulations in countries such as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and disaster risk reduction efforts coordinated with UNDRR and PAHO. Notable achievements include improved regional forecasting through model exchanges with ECMWF and CPTEC, expanded aerosol and greenhouse gas monitoring tied to AGAGE-style protocols, and training hundreds of early-career scientists who pursued fellowships at NCAR, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Max Planck Institutes, and Imperial College London. Future directions emphasize integration with emerging programs like Decadal Survey priorities, expanded high-resolution regional modeling linked to CORDEX extensions, enhanced satellite synergy with Copernicus services, and greater engagement with climate adaptation efforts under frameworks such as UNFCCC and Sendai Framework to support resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Category:Atmospheric science organizations