Observing and associated facilities of the Atmospheric Technology Division (ATD) include research aircraft, remote sensing systems, atmospheric sounding instruments, automated surface systems, and interactive computing facilities. These facilities are staffed with skilled engineers and technicians who operate and deploy the equipment. ATD's development capability resides primarily in its staff of scientists, engineers, and programmers. ATD is set up to be the focal point for the more complex platforms and instruments that are needed by many scientists and that can only be developed and operated by a sizeable team of technical staff. Development programs are routinely undertaken in collaboration with other NCAR divisions, universities, and other research organizations.

The ATD technical staff frequently advises and assists users of its facilities in experimental design and planning for field programs, in sampling and measurement techniques, and, in some instances, in the design and fabrication of special equipment. Field data are quality assured and processed before distribution to users. Assistance in analysis of these data is also frequently provided.

The division supports the observing component of research studies in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including mesoscale meteorology, cloud physics, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol physics, radiative transfer, boundary-layer meteorology, and air-sea interaction. In recent years, use of the facilities by the atmospheric chemistry and oceanography communities has grown. In addition, there has been a trend in research toward the simultaneous study of phenomena and processes occurring on a multiplicity of atmospheric spatial and temporal scales. These changes have directly influenced ATD's plans for the development of new systems.

Based upon available information on science needs for observing facilities, some common themes are being addressed by ATD in its observing system development program. One recurrent need is for remote sensing from mobile platforms (mostly aircraft), together with specialized ground-based network capabilities. Measurements of atmospheric water, radiation, ozone, momentum, and sensible heat all have a high priority and require special attention. Many other gaseous chemical species need to be measured within the troposphere and lower stratosphere, as do specific aerosol and hydrometeor properties.

A recent thrust by ATD has been to develop and/or make available new remote sensors to meet some of these needs. In FY 96, development was completed on a new, highly portable, S-band dual-polarization Doppler radar (S-Pol) to replace the CP-2 system. S-Pol was successfully tested and deployed in its first field study in summer 1996. In addition, as a result of ATD's collaboration with the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) in optical remote sensing, two optical systems are now available for community use: the airborne or ground-based Staring Aerosol Backscatter Lidar (SABL), and an airborne ozone Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL). These new observing systems are described in detail in later sections of this report.

ATD's overall aim is to provide comprehensive, high-quality observational support for various studies conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the U.S. Weather Research Program, as well as for other important atmospheric research studies. The division works closely with other NCAR divisions, universities, NSF, and other federal agencies to ensure that its current facilities and long-range plans provide for observing platforms, instruments, and services most needed by the scientific community.