Facilities & Instrumentation

Observations of natural processes are the building blocks of scientific discovery. Many in NCAR’s community of scientists rely on observational data to gain insights on atmospheric phenomena and related Earth system processes. NCAR helps researchers achieve this objective, through its Earth Observing Laboratory. World-class ground, airborne, and spaceborne observational instrumentation are provided, as well as facilities, support, and data processing services that are critical to collecting and understanding atmospheric observations.

Our community of scientists works on a wide variety of topics, from climate change and its societal impacts to severe storm prediction and forecasting, air chemistry and pollution, and the Sun and space weather. To keep ahead of researchers’ needs, NCAR scientists and staff monitor the ever-evolving data and instrumentation requirements of the atmospheric science community. We constantly modify and improve systems, so as to be on the forefront of understanding and predicting atmospheric research needs.

Highlighted Topics

• Instruments for Observations

  Explore our extensive roster of observational platforms and instruments for collecting weather and climate data.

• Libraries

  Discover online resources for Earth system and general science education, photographs, multimedia imagery, our archives, and an acronym decoder. Visitors may use the NCAR library's four physical collections at the Mesa, Foothills, Center Green, and RAF/Jeffco campuses.

• Research Aviation Facility

  The NSF/NCAR C-130 and HIAPER aircraft are housed at the Earth Observing Laboratory's Research Aviation Facility at the Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield, Colorado.

• Mauna Loa Solar Observatory

  The MLSO, operated by the High Altitude Observaotry, NCAR, houses instruments designed to observe the sun at different wavelengths, to assist scientists in understanding the sun and space weather.

• Supercomputing Facilities

  Our supercomputers are used by university, laboratory, and NCAR researchers to investigate questions in Earth system science and solar physics, particularly for investigations beyond the scope of university computing centers.

• NCAR's Vislab

  The VisLab is a state-of-the-art scientific visualization environment capable of stereo projection and multisite, multimedia meetings via the Access Grid.

• NCAR/UCAR Campuses

  Contact information and maps to our campuses in and near Boulder, Colorado.