NOAA OGP Aerosol Climate Program
September 15, 1995
Research Strategy
Objective 1: Characterize the Aerosol A simultaneous chemical, physical and radiative characterization of the atmospheric aerosol is needed in a variety of different air masses to develop and test model calculations of aerosol distributions and radiative effects. NOAA’s research strategy for this objective is twofold:
to conduct long-term continuous observations upwind, within and downwind of the continental US to determine the seasonal variability and long-term trends in aerosol properties on a regional scale, and
to conduct short-term intensive field campaigns to determine the spatial variability of aerosol properties on a regional to hemispheric scales.
The current ground-based network involves research groups at NOAA/CMDL, NOAA/PMEL, the University of Washington (UW), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and includes four stations at Cheeka Peak, WA; Niwot Ridge, CO; Bondville, IL; and Sable Island, Nova Scotia.