NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research@NCAR_Science

At @NSF NCAR, we study the Earth system, from oceans to exosphere: weather, water, climate, air quality, space weather + more. Operated by @UCAR_News #NSFfunded

 Boulder, CO, USA
ncar.ucar.edu/
Joined April 2009
1,750 Photos and videos
Since dryness is a critical driver of wildfires, a team of NSF NCAR scientists created a wildfire risk map, updated in real time & open source, to show a detailed view of the moisture content of different types of vegetation across the US & adjacent areas. bit.ly/4hAfW8Z
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🧑🏻‍🎓Open for apps! The ASP postdoc allows students to conduct independent research under the mentorship of scientists & engineers at NSF NCAR. This year, we are requesting apps that fit the theme of “Building National Resilience." Apps due October 25. bit.ly/3SSn9ZT
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Looking for a residency opportunity? The NSF NCAR EdEC Faculty Fellowship Program allows fellows to develop research collaborations, joint research proposals, enhanced classroom content & more in Boulder, CO. Apps due October 8. bit.ly/4gRSrI8
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Summer is winding down, but summer internship season is 1 of our fav times of year! Our 2026 cohort spent the summer working on their research projects, learning from mentors & attending professional development seminars & a poster session. Congrats on wonderful work, interns!
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Boulder-area friends: On Monday (8/24) & Tuesday (8/25), the Mesa Lab road will be reduced to one lane for vehicles & will be closed to pedestrians & bicycles due to construction. Expect 5-10 minute delays as flaggers manage traffic. Normal operations resume on Wednesday (8/26).
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Spotlighting wildfire behavior in our next Explorer Series event next week.🧑‍🚒 Jason Knievel will discuss predicting & modeling wildfire behavior & how research supports emergency responders. 📅: 8/25 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MDT edec.ucar.edu/events/wildfir…
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Building an AI model just got easier thanks to our open source tool CREDIT! NSF NCAR’s next-gen Community Research Earth Digital Intelligence Twin (CREDIT) got an upgrade, now with a building-blocks approach, reduced run time & more physics to keep the AI outputs realistic.
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CREDIT is a free resource that’s great for students, professors & any researcher who wants to build an AI emulator. This tool is just one way that we’re building powerful AI capabilities to support the broader research community. Learn more about CREDIT: news.ucar.edu/133085/scienti…
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At the end of the rainbow, sometimes the pot of gold is actually an architectural & scientific treasure– the Mesa Lab! 🌈 For us, advancing Earth system science & making strides in research that benefit society is the ultimate reward. 📸: Bradley Allf ncar.ucar.edu/
A closeup of the Mesa Lab from the NCAR Trail shows a rainbow above it.

ALT A closeup of the Mesa Lab from the NCAR Trail shows a rainbow above it.

A rainbow arcs over the Mesa Lab as viewed from the NCAR Trail.

ALT A rainbow arcs over the Mesa Lab as viewed from the NCAR Trail.
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Curious about air quality during wildfire season and how it can impact our health? NSF NCAR scientist Forrest Lacey shares insights in our next Science in the Spotlight webinar. 📅Thursday, Aug. 13 from 3-4 p.m. MT 🌐 Virtual webinar More details: edec.ucar.edu/events/wildfir…
Virtual graphic with text: Science in the Spotlight: Air quality, smoke, and the health impacts of wildfire Forrest Lacey Thursday, Aug. 13 from 3-4 p.m. MT Virtual attendance only

ALT Virtual graphic with text: Science in the Spotlight: Air quality, smoke, and the health impacts of wildfire Forrest Lacey Thursday, Aug. 13 from 3-4 p.m. MT Virtual attendance only

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NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research retweeted
Denver7 News
@DenverChannel
Jul 29
Towering "firestorm clouds" are largely a mystery. A first-of-its kind NASA project is working to change that, and a Broomfield-based NCAR plane is at the center of the mission. denver7.com/news/wildfire/to…

Towering 'firestorm clouds' are largely a mystery. A first-of-its kind NASA mission is working to...

Fire-generated thunderstorms that can shoot smoke 50,000 feet into the air are the subject of a first-of-its-kind NASA research mission that will require a specially-outfitted, Broomfield-based NCAR...

denver7.com
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Pardon our dust 🚧 Expect roadwork & construction on the Mesa Lab road & parking lot this month. To maintain access to the building & trails, there will be temporary closures of parking lot sections & one-way traffic access managed by flaggers. Thanks for understanding!
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REMINDER: Today and tomorrow, NSF NCAR Mesa Lab road and parking lot, as well as nearby Boulder Open Space trails, will be closed to the public starting at 4 p.m. MDT. The road will reopen for normal use on Sunday. Happy July 4th!
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🎆 Boulder-area friends: The NSF NCAR Mesa Lab road, parking lot, and hiking access will be closed for the holiday starting at 4 p.m. on both July 3 and July 4. The road will reopen for normal use on July 5. Thank you!
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Let’s explore machine learning and subseasonal forecasting! In Tuesday's virtual Explorer Series conversation, Kirsten Mayer discusses how NSF NCAR scientists use machine learning to uncover what conditions make long range forecasts more accurate. Details: bit.ly/48tYsr5
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For National AI Literacy Day, NCAR CISL scientists will discuss AI machine learning models & visualizations along w/ emerging opportunities & challenges of AI application in Earth system science. Join us virtually on Friday, March 27, at 11 AM MDT. bit.ly/4bPLAMR
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To prevent collisions of satellites and other "space junk," we need to predict the weather in space, just like we predict the weather on Earth. Join the NSF NCAR Explorer Series (virtually or in-person) to learn more about how researchers do that: edec.ucar.edu/events/space-d…
A promotional flyer for a seminar hosted by NSF and NCAR. It features a satellite in space. The text reads: "Keeping space safe: Understanding the impacts of space weather on satellite orbits." The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM MT at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Boulder, CO. A QR code and headshot of the speaker, Nick Pedatella, are included.

ALT A promotional flyer for a seminar hosted by NSF and NCAR. It features a satellite in space. The text reads: "Keeping space safe: Understanding the impacts of space weather on satellite orbits." The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM MT at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Boulder, CO. A QR code and headshot of the speaker, Nick Pedatella, are included.

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NSF NCAR and @SwRI researchers have created an AI-enabled forecasting tool that is a first step toward forecasting space weather weeks in advance, instead of just hours. Learn more: news.ucar.edu/133059/new-res…
Three images of the Sun showing magnetic vectors produced by PINNBARDS.

ALT Three images of the Sun showing magnetic vectors produced by PINNBARDS.

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Our researchers have compiled the first nationwide inventory of emissions from structure fires in the wildland-urban interface. The inventory lays the groundwork for communities to be more prepared for and resilient to the impacts of smoke. Learn more: bit.ly/4rOBgeu
Hillside wildfire with flames and smoke near residential area with several houses. Photo credit: FEMA

ALT Hillside wildfire with flames and smoke near residential area with several houses. Photo credit: FEMA

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We’ve got a new dataset that’s hi-res and research ready: MESACLIP. Researchers used two supercomputers to create the MESACLIP dataset which features the Earth system in unprecedented detail, including snow cover and sea surface temperatures. Learn more: bit.ly/4rBK9bg
A high-resolution simulation illustrating ocean currents with vibrant colors. The warm currents are depicted in red and orange, centrally concentrated along the equator, while cooler currents appear in blue and green. Continents, including North America, South America, Africa, Eurasia, and Australia, are visible.

ALT A high-resolution simulation illustrating ocean currents with vibrant colors. The warm currents are depicted in red and orange, centrally concentrated along the equator, while cooler currents appear in blue and green. Continents, including North America, South America, Africa, Eurasia, and Australia, are visible.
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