Capabilities

Atmospheric Observatories

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility operates strategically located atmospheric observatories to improve the understanding and representation in earth system models of clouds and aerosols and their interactions with the Earth’s surface.

Fixed-Location Observatories

Three heavily instrumented fixed-location atmospheric observatories that represent a broad range of conditions are operated by ARM to gather massive amounts of atmospheric data.

Resources

Take the Virtual Tours

Southern Great Plains (SGP)

Centered near Lamont, Oklahoma,
United States

Explore the SGP

North Slope of Alaska (NSA)

Centered at Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, United States

Explore the NSA

Eastern North Atlantic (ENA)

Located on Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal

Explore the ENA

Mobile and Aerial Observatories

In addition to the fixed-location observatories, ARM also offers both mobile and aerial facilities.

ARM Mobile Facility (AMF)

Scientists can propose to use one of three AMF to obtain atmospheric measurements, similar to those at the fixed-location observatories, for periods of about a year at a time in undersampled regions around the world.

A mobile facility is currently in Alabama for a long-term deployment in the Bankhead National Forest.

Learn More about the AMF

ARM Aerial Facility (AAF)

The AAF obtains aerial measurements in the skies above the fixed-location and AMF observatories. The U.S. Department of Energy funded the purchase of a Bombardier Challenger 850 regional jet to expand ARM’s scientific data capabilities. ARM is also developing uncrewed aerial system and tethered balloon system capabilities to address a wide range of science requirements.

Learn More about the AAF

Past Observatories

Data from past deployments of the AMF and AAF, and the former Tropical Western Pacific and Oliktok Point, Alaska, observatories, are a valuable asset to researchers worldwide and are easily accessible from the ARM Data Center through Data Discovery.