PNNL

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility is a key contributor to national and international atmospheric and climate research efforts. ARM offers scientists advanced ground-based observatories, manned and unmanned aerial facilities, and over 30 years of continuous measurements of cloud and aerosol properties and their impacts on Earth’s energy balance.

The objective is to improve scientific understanding of atmospheric processes and the representation of those processes in global-scale weather and climate models.

ARM operates observatories around the world that collect comprehensive and continuous atmospheric measurements. These data are provided freely to the research community worldwide to support the study of the interactions among clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and the surface energy balance.

In addition, ARM’s high-resolution modeling, computing resources, and analytical tools help scientists apply the measurements to pressing science issues, including the evaluation and improvement of global-scale atmospheric models.

PNNL science staff manage the overall technical direction for ARM and provide leadership for key facility elements, including the aerial facility, engineering processes, multiple instrument classes, data product development, communications, and procurements. PNNL is one of nine Department of Energy national laboratories contributing to the management and operation of ARM.