Labs
NOAA’s Research Laboratories provide fundamental research, technology development, and services to improve the nation’s understanding of Earth, its ocean and inland waters, and the lower and upper atmosphere. In executing its climate science and services activities, the Climate Program Office funds and collaborates with the following labs:
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Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory’s research portfolio encompasses ocean, coastal, and atmospheric studies to ready the Nation for changes driven by weather, climate, and pressures on marine ecosystems.
Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)
ARL conducts research and development in the fields of air quality,atmospheric dispersion, climate, and boundary layer science. Key activities include the development, evaluation, and application of air quality models; improvement of approaches for predicting atmospheric dispersion of hazardous materials; and the generation of new insights into air-surface exchange and climate variability and trends.
Visit the OAR’s Research Program Locations map for locations of the NOAA Research Laboratories.
AOML’s research spans hurricanes, coastal ecosystems, oceans and human health, climate studies, global carbon systems, and ocean observations. Research programs are augmented by the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a joint enterprise with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
ESRL scientists study atmospheric and other processes that affect air quality, weather, and climate. By better understanding the dynamic Earth system, we can better understand what drives this afternoon’s haze, next month’s hurricanes, and next century’s climate. ESRL researchers monitor the atmosphere, study the physical and chemical processes that comprise the Earth system, and integrate those findings into environmental information products. Their work improves critical weather and climate tools for the public and private sectors, from hourly forecasts to international science assessments with policy-relevant findings.
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
GFDL’s mission is to be a world leader in the production of timely and reliable knowledge and assessments on natural climate variability and anthropogenic changes and in the development of the required earth system models. GFDL works cooperatively in NOAA to advance its expert assessments of changes in national and global climate through research, improved models, and products.
National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
NSSL serves the nation by working to improve the lead time and accuracy of severe weather warnings and forecasts in order to save lives and reduce property damage. NSSL scientists are committed to their mission to understand the causes of severe weather and explore new ways to use weather information to assist National Weather Service forecasters and federal, university, and private sector partners.
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)
PMEL carries out interdisciplinary scientific investigations in oceanography and atmospheric science. Current PMEL programs focus on open ocean observations in support of long-term monitoring and prediction of the ocean environment on time scales from hours to decades. Studies are conducted to improve our understanding of the complex physical and geochemical processes operating in the world oceans, to define the forcing functions and processes driving ocean circulation and the global climate system, and to improve environmental forecasting capabilities and other supporting services for marine commerce and fisheries.