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Dr. David Carlson | In 1997 ATD again achieved a number of successes in the development and operation of observing facilities for important atmospheric research studies, despite the usual budget stringencies. Notable among these accomplishments were the completion of development and successful deployment of the GPS Dropsonde system, and the deployment and operation of a large variety of ATD observing and data-support facilities during the Fronts and Atlantic Storms Experiment (FASTEX), conducted over the North Atlantic during January-February. The latter field program required extensive support from every group within ATD. |
ATD's overall aim is to provide comprehensive, high-quality observational support for various important atmospheric research studies, especially those conducted under the auspices of named U.S. research programs. The division works closely with NSF, universities, other NCAR divisions and federal agencies to ensure that its current facilities and plans provide for the observing support most needed by the scientific community.
As an important component of the National Center, ATD is the focal point for the more complex platforms and instruments that are needed by many scientists but that can only be developed and operated by a sizeable team of technical staff. ATD’s current observing systems include research aircraft, remote sensing systems, atmospheric sounding instruments, automated surface systems, and interactive computing facilities. These facilities are developed, deployed, and operated by ATD’s skilled and dedicated staff of scientists, engineers, programmers, and technicians. Joint development programs are routinely undertaken in collaboration with NCAR divisions, universities, and other research organizations.
The ATD technical staff assists facility users 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 before distribution to users. Assistance in data analysis is also frequently provided.
ATD tries to maintain a broad complement of versatile observing systems to better serve atmospheric research studies covering a wide range of topics. Lately, remote sensing and sounding from mobile platforms (mostly aircraft) have received special attention, as has the development of better capabilities for measuring water vapor. Details about these new development thrusts are included in later sections of this report.
More information about ATD and its observing facilities may be found on the ATD Website at http://www.atd.ucar.edu, and on-line forms for requesting the use of these facilities are available at http://www.atd.ucar.edu/dir_off/requests.html.
Comments and suggestions from interested readers on this report or on ATD’s program are highly welcome. Please address them to Dave Carlson at dcarlson@ucar.edu.
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