Increased activity expected at NSF NCAR Mesa Lab during Super Science Saturday on Nov. 1, 2025.

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NSF NCAR

From cloud droplets and ozone to turbulence and solar flares, we have an instrument that can measure it.

NSF NCAR provides advanced airborne, ground-based, and even space-based observational facilities and services to the atmospheric and space physics communities.

These facilities include surface meteorological instruments, flux measurement systems, ground-based in-situ atmospheric composition samplers, vertical profiling systems, ground-based and airborne remote sensors, research aircraft, solar telescopes, and satellite instruments.

Facilities + instruments

The NSF/NCAR C-130

Research aircraft

NSF NCAR manages two research aircraft: a C-130 and a Gulfstream V. The C-130 has a 10-hour flight endurance, a 2,900 nautical mile range at up to 27,000 ft, and a payload capacity of up to 13,000 pounds. The G-V can reach 51,000 feet with a range of 7,000 miles.

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The S-Polka radar at Marshall Field Site

NSF Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF)

NSF NCAR's Earth Observing Lab manages many of the LAOF platforms and instruments, which include aircraft, radars, lidars, dropsonde systems, and much more. These can be deployed in field campaigns led by qualified U.S. researchers at no extra cost to their scientific grant.

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The Global Hawk Advanced Whole Air Sampler

In-situ chemistry instrumentation

NSF NCAR's Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling lab maintains a suite of atmospheric chemistry instrumentation that measures natural and anthropogenic emissions, pollution, chemical processes, and associated atmospheric impacts.

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Inside the smaller MLSO dome

Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (MLSO)

MLSO, on the Island of Hawaii at 3,400 meters above sea level, is one of the rare places on Earth ideal for observing the solar corona. Its two coronagraphs observe the direction and strength of the coronal magnetic field, plasma motions, and prominence dynamics.

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Palmer Station, Antarctica

Fabry-Perot upper atmospheric winds observing network

This network of Fabry-Perot Interferometers measures thermospheric and mesospheric winds for upper atmospheric dynamics studies and gravity wave research. Spread across the world from the Arctic to Antarctica, these five instruments are essential for space weather research.

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