The Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change division at PNNL is a diverse and multi-disciplinary organization that supports a key focus of the U.S. Department of Energy: Advance the predictive understanding of the Earth's climate and environmental systems. Nearly all energy-related systems interact with the atmosphere and more broadly with the Earth's climate system. Our research on atmospheric processes and the interconnections among energy, climate, and other human and natural systems is critical to inform sustainable solutions to the Nation's energy and environmental challenges.

Within the integrated Earth system science paradigm, our major research thrusts include the physics and chemistry of aerosols, clouds and precipitation; integrating our understanding of climate, energy, and other human and natural systems through the development and application of models that span a wide range of spatial scales; and determining the impacts of and informing responses to climate and other global and regional environmental changes. We provide leadership and expertise to major programs within the Department of Energy's Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research program, including the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility, the Atmospheric System Research program, and DOE's climate modeling programs. We also conduct research, often working in collaboration with scientists and engineers across PNNL and around the world, on related topics such as the renewable energy, complex regional meteorology and chemistry, and the possible national security implications of climate change.

In addition to leading and participating in a broad range of research activities, staff from the Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change division hold leadership positions in a number of scientific societies and journals and contribute their expertise to a broad range of national and international reports and assessments from organizations such as the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the U.S. National Climate Assessment.

I invite you to explore these pages, learn about the innovative research by our scientists and engineers, and connect with our staff to learn more about how we can work together to better understand the integrated Earth system.

Dr. Ian Kraucunas

Director, Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change Division