Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado

The CGD Laboratory has a mission to discover the key processes in each component of the Earth system and the interactions among them; represent this understanding in models and thereby provide a basis for prediction; and apply this understanding and these models to scientific problems of societal relevance.

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Our Work

Our research focuses to increase our understanding of atmospheric and Earth system variability through parallel development and analysis of observational, assimilated, model-generated and model-forcing dataset

Data Sets & Resources

Datasets & Resources

Facilitates access to extensive collections of Earth system model output and observational datasets. These products are very popular with Earth system researchers, both in the United States and internationally.

Earth System Modeling

Modeling

Developing innovative Earth system modeling capabilities, with the ultimate goal of providing accurate and computationally advanced representations of the fully coupled and integrated Earth system.

cgd_scientific_visitor_program

Visitor Program

Provides the opportunity for long-term scientific visits, along with investment in local support to ensure collaborators can make the most productive use of their time.

Research Integration

Three key groups in integrating science and service to support and strengthen scientific research efforts with CGD and NCAR.

CESM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING GROUP

CESM Software Engineering Group

Works on CSEG code development efforts and project management issues on the CESM project

Information Systems Group (ISG)

Information Systems Group (ISG)

Provides computing technologies for the CGD laboratory and its collaborators

NCAR

Administrative Team

The CGD Administrative Team provides extensive knowledge, expertise and best practices in administration, information, and management functions.

Research Sections

Our scientists pursue research as part of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and are broken up into focused sections.

Atmospheric Modeling & Predictability (AMP) Section

Atmospheric Modeling & Predictability Section

Research focuses on increasing understanding of the atmosphere and its role in the Earth system, through modeling and observational studies, and to represent that understanding in improved atmospheric models.

Climate Analysis Section (CAS)

CAS

Research focus is to increase understanding of the atmosphere through empirical studies and diagnostic analyses of the atmosphere and its interactions with the earth's surface and oceans on a wide range of time scales.

Climate Change Research (CCR) Section

Earth System Predictability Section

Uses appropriate Earth system models to study the response of the Earth system to a variety of forcings, including changes in carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases and aerosols.

Oceanography

Oceanography Section

Research is understanding the large-scale ocean circulation and the dynamics of the Earth system through studies of the important processes in the ocean, in air-sea interaction, and in coupled systems

PPC

Paleo & Polar Section

Enhance the understanding of the workings of the Earth system through investigations of the past and the role of polar regions in Earth system variability and change

Terrestrial Sciences Section

Terrestrial Sciences Section

Studies land-atmosphere interactions, in particular, surface forcing of the atmosphere, through model development, application, and observational analyses