Who We Are
Observing the atmosphere so science can see further.
The Earth Observing Laboratory exists to advance weather and Earth System science across the university-based research community. We bring cutting-edge atmospheric observing systems, expert leadership, and scientific guidance to field campaigns proposed by universities, government agencies, and NSF NCAR - anywhere on Earth the atmosphere needs watching.
As stewards of a major share of the Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) within NSF's Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE) program, we develop, advance, and deploy observing capabilities that enable researchers to measure the atmosphere in new and increasingly powerful ways. From designing and improving instruments and observing systems, to operating them in complex field environments, to supporting the data and expertise needed to turn observations into discovery, EOL provides the capabilities and knowledge that make ambitious atmospheric research possible. Education and community support are woven into everything we do.
EOL advances its mission through four interconnected areas of expertise and capability: Development, Deployment, Data Services, and Discovery. Together, they span the path from developing new observing capabilities, to collecting and stewarding high-quality data, to enabling the scientific community to use those observations to advance understanding of the Earth system.
