The U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) was established in 1960 to provide the university community with world-class facilities and capabilities that at the time were beyond the reach of any individual institution. By making state-of-the-art observational platforms, data sets, and models openly available to the research community — as well as providing the necessary support and training to use these resources — NSF NCAR has facilitated decades of research breakthroughs that have significantly benefited society, as well as our understanding of the atmosphere and how it interacts with the Earth system as a whole, including the Sun.
Today, we stand at a pivotal moment in the history of Earth system science. Society is routinely experiencing larger wildfires, more intense storms, deepening droughts, rising seas, and more acute air pollution — along with the continued threat of solar storms — all of which threaten lives and livelihoods.
This seminar, drawing on examples from NSF NCAR and the community, will demonstrate how interdisciplinary teams, advanced computational capabilities, comprehensive observational networks, and collaborative research frameworks are transforming our ability to model, predict, and respond to Earth system changes. The seminar will highlight cutting-edge technologies shaping the field, including exascale computing, artificial intelligence integration, and next-generation observing systems.
Opportunities for community members to collaborate with NSF NCAR to advance their research will also be presented.