Work With ARM: Propose a New Campaign

Published: 6 January 2026

Uncrewed aerial system and tethered balloon system calls now open; researchers may also propose small campaigns

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility has opened its annual facility call for researchers wanting to use ARM capabilities. As part of this call, ARM is now accepting preliminary proposals for ArcticShark uncrewed aerial system (UAS) and tethered balloon system (TBS) missions in fiscal year 2027 (FY2027).

At the same time, ARM is participating in a joint call with the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). Like ARM, EMSL is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility.

The ARM/EMSL call is supported through the Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) program. At no cost to them, FICUS awardees can use world-class ARM and EMSL resources and collaborate with scientific staff from both user facilities.

Through the new FICUS call, researchers can apply to use EMSL instruments to collect samples of aerosols and volatile organic compounds on ARM ArcticShark or TBS flights and then conduct analysis using advanced laboratory techniques at EMSL. For information about the EMSL instruments available for this call, read the ARM/EMSL FICUS FY2027 solicitation.

The ARM-only call is for projects that do not require EMSL instruments and sample analysis.

Awarded projects from the ARM-only and FICUS calls will start no earlier than Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Propose TBS and ArcticShark Missions

Applicants may propose FY2027 TBS missions for the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) atmospheric observatory in Alabama; the Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory in Oklahoma; or the Desert-Urban SysTem IntegratEd AtmospherIc Monsoon (DUSTIEAIM) field campaign in Phoenix, Arizona.

Applicants may propose FY2027 ArcticShark missions for only the SGP or BNF observatories.

For more information on these calls, view ARM’s FY2027 proposal guidelines: TBS missions and ArcticShark missions.

How to Propose for TBS and ArcticShark Calls

Proposals requesting EMSL instruments and sample analysis must be submitted to the ARM/EMSL FICUS FY2027 solicitation.

FICUS submissions will require a letter of intent to facilitate the planning of the peer-review process, ensure alignment of proposals to ARM and EMSL missions and capabilities, and assist users in building strong proposals. More information about requirements for letters of intent is available on this FICUS guidance web page.

Proposals for the ARM-only call will follow the review procedures outlined in ARM’s FY2027 proposal guidelines for TBS and ArcticShark missions. Proposals must be submitted through ARM’s Propose a Field Campaign page.

The due date to submit preproposals for TBS and ArcticShark missions through the ARM-only call is the same as the deadline to submit letters of intent for the FICUS call: Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Propose an ARM Small Campaign

Throughout the year, ARM accepts proposals for small campaigns (i.e., cost to ARM is less than $300,000). Small campaigns may include activities such as:

• deployment of principal investigator instrumentation at an ARM fixed-location or mobile observatory
• special scanning of an ARM radar or lidar
• enhanced radiosonde launches
• deployment of small UAS at an ARM observatory
• collection of aerosol or precipitation samples at an ARM observatory
• use of ARM instrumentation for an offsite campaign
• request for special data products.

For details on deadlines and how to propose, view the small campaign guidelines.

Get More Information: ARM Field Campaign Processes Webinar

For people interested in participating in any of the open calls, ARM will hold a field campaign processes webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. During this webinar, ARM staff will give an overview of the ArcticShark and TBS capabilities, the proposal process, and responsibilities associated with ARM deployments. Register to join the webinar.