The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) carries out research on processes that affect the quality of the atmosphere. These processes are related to transport, transformation and removal of trace substances, including both wet and dry deposition and the exchange between the atmosphere and biological and non-biological surfaces. The deposition of pollutants resulting from these exchange processes constitutes one of the inputs of pollution to ecosystems. In coastal areas, in particular, the loading by pollutants delivered by atmospheric deposition can be a sizeable portion of the total pollution loading, so that the atmospheric contribution must be taken into account in models and in the development of regulatory strategies. ARL research focuses on the role of deposition of nutrients, especially ammonium and nitrate, but a mercury program is slowly evolving. Mercury is of special interest because once deposited it accumulates in the organs of animals and can eventually be life threatening.
ARL also conducts detailed studies of the processes that control exchange between the air and the surface in coastal areas, where exchange is complicated by the land-water boundary and the presence of depth-affected shallow water. Aircraft studies are conducted, primarily employing a specially instrumented private aircraft that is particularly suited for studies of this kind.
ARL has research units in the following locations. The groups italicized have programs related to this particular thematic grouping of Ocean and Coastal Research.
- Headquarters Division - Silver Spring, MD
- Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division - Oak Ridge, TN
- Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division - Research Triangle Park, NC
- Field Research Division - Idaho Falls, ID
- Special Operations and Research Division - Las Vegas, NV
- Surface Radiation Research Branch - Boulder, CO
For more information contact:
Air Resources Laboratory
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-0295
http://www.arl.noaa.gov
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