Atmosphere Cluster (AGS-AC)

Source summary

The Atmosphere Cluster (AC) in the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) supports fundamental studies of atmospheric processes from the Earth's surface to the stratosphere, and from timescales of nanoseconds to millennia. Core areas of research include the chemical, physical, and dynamical processes in the atmosphere that impact clouds, weather, climate, air quality, and the water cycle. Research methods include modeling, collecting observations, conducting experiments in the laboratory and field, and advancing analytical measurement techniques. General research topics that are supported by the AC include, and are not limited to: Chemical processes and mechanisms that explain how atmospheric gases and aerosols form, react, transform and interact with the surrounding environment. Processes and dynamics that govern climate and hydroclimate, including their mean state, variability, response to external forcing and their role in the establishment of a global energy and water balance; coupled atmosphere-ocean interactions, land-atmosphere interactions and interactions among clouds, atmospheric circulation and climate. Observational and modeling studies of past climate and its drivers and studies that develop and synthesize paleoclimate proxies and records. Physics and dynamics of atmospheric motions on all scales, from the planetary to the microscale, including the general circulation of the troposphere and stratosphere, planetary waves, synoptic and mesoscale systems, convection, gravity waves, turbulence and planetary boundary layer dynamics. Physical meteorology including aerosol, cloud, and precipitation physics and atmospheric electricity. Synoptic and mesoscale meteorology including the processes, predictability and future changes in severe and hazardo...