The Importance of Observational Research

Setting up arrays of sonic anemometer/thermometers augmented with fast response water vapor and carbon dioxide sensors during the 2007 CHATS (Canopy Horizontal Array Turbulence Study) field expedition. Observations of our atmosphere, Earth system, and Sun are the basis for many scientific discoveries. The ability to make these observations is fundamental to meeting the science goals of NCAR and the community we serve.

NCAR develops and deploys world-class ground, airborne, and spaceborne observational facilities and services. Our contributions run the gamut, from providing technical assistance on instrument deployment to organizing field campaigns with hundreds of participants in multiple locations.

For instance, NCAR provides a variety of tools that facilitate making observations, including two research aircraft – the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V (GV), which is among the world's most advanced research aircraft, and the NSF/NCAR C-130. Each plane is equipped with standard sensors to make routine measurements of wind, pressure, and temperature and can also be outfitted with airborne radars, lidars, radiometers, and atmospheric chemistry instrumentation to make precise measurements of other atmospheric properties. Such data can yield important insights into climate patterns, the genesis of dangerous weather events, and the factors that influence the worldwide movement of gases and aerosols in the atmosphere.