ACOM Directors' Message
We are pleased to present the 2021 Laboratory Annual Report (LAR) for the Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling (ACOM) Laboratory. This has been a year of change as the Lab introduced a new director and several other staff including new administrative and scientific staff. The Lab has been continuing its reinvigorating efforts while continuing its dedication to exceptional science and community service.
ACOM’s goal is to lead and enable atmospheric chemistry research for, and in collaboration with, the US university community on the ever-changing composition of the atmosphere. Atmospheric chemistry research is essential to addressing the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s (NCAR) mission to understand and predict the behavior of the atmosphere in the Earth Climate system.
ACOM has continued important work in the objectives the Lab has identified as its major research programs and goals. Some highlights are included here.
Technological Innovation Into Iodine and GV aircraft Environmental Research (TI3GER)
A field campaign to investigate technology that measures iodine chemistry and its effect on lower stratospheric ozone. ACOM scientists and engineers recently returned from Kona, Hawaii and Anchorage, Alaska after working successfully on TI3GER. In this campaign, the new TOGA-TOF could finally be tested after two years of COVID without any campaigns.
Multi-Scale Infrastructure for Chemistry and Aerosols (MUSICA)
A community modeling infrastructure for simulation of large-scale atmospheric phenomena. MUSICA parallels other activities at NCAR to streamline and unify model development by eventually replacing and extending the current community chemistry modeling efforts. A new online MUSICA tutorial series with increasing participation began in November with monthly sessions planned, including presentations and hands-on exercises.
Optimizing the team with a new Director and staff
The lab brought on a new Director and NCAR Senior Scientist, Dr. Pieternel Levelt, from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) and Delft University of Technology. Pieternel is the Principal Investigator of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and the scientific founder of the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). The lab also brought on new scientists and engineers for various projects and fully restaffed its administrative team.
Awarding of UCAR Presidential funds for A UCAR Satellite Remote Sensing Initiative
This initiative for UCAR satellite cross collaboration is led by ACOM, in collaboration with HAO and UCP. Funding was granted by the UCAR President’s Strategic Funds.
ACOM is hosting in person visitors and students since going to our virtual environment due to COVID-19 situation. The lab is excited to greet staff and visitors in person once again and to have ACOM Seminars presented in a hybrid mode for those online and in person.