NSF NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

08/13/2026

Another summer of research is in the books! From late May through July, undergraduate interns in the NSF NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory's Summer Undergraduate Program for Engineering Research (SUPER) and the NSF NCAR Earth System Science Internship (NESSI) dove into hands-on research projects alongside our scientists and engineers.

Their work culminated at the NSF NCAR, UCAR, UCP, and CIRES Summer Student Conference — a full day of poster sessions, lightning talks, and a postdoc Q&A panel celebrating student research across the organization. Four of our SUPER and NESSI interns took the stage (and the poster boards) to share what they'd researched.

None of this happens without the mentors who guide these projects day to day — our thanks to them for the time, patience, and expertise they invested in this year's cohort.

Below, meet these four students and see what they accomplished this summer. https://www.eol.ucar.edu/news/eol-summer-2026-research-interns

🔷 Adrian Flores is presenting "Machine Learning Analysis of Disagreement Between Wind Lidar Observations and Numerical Models."

🔷 Sid Guha presented "Machine Learning Quantification of Radar Wind Profiler Uncertainty Against Wind Lidar for M2HATS and LOTOS-2025."

🔷 Simran LaBore, who joined us through NESSI, presented "Characterizing Downslope Windstorms at NCAR's Marshall Field Site: Toward a Site-Specific Observing Strategy."

🔷 Naowal Rahman presented "Scaling Atmospheric LiDAR Retrieval Speed and Robustness with Differentiable Forward-Model Regularizers."

NCAR | UCAR Internships - https://ncar.ucar.edu/opportunities/internships

We wish our interns the best in their future endeavors!

03/17/2026

✈️ Registration for the 2026 AVAPS Users Group Meeting closes next week!

Don’t miss your chance to join the community advancing atmospheric observations and severe weather research.

📅 April 28–29, 2026

📍 NCAR Foothills Lab | Boulder, CO

🌐 Hybrid: in-person + virtual option

Following a strong 2025 meeting with participants from NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and international research teams, this year’s meeting will continue the conversations that drive real-world impact.

Did you know the NSF NCAR dropsonde program dates back to 1965? Originally designed to collect atmospheric data from aircraft, dropsondes remain a critical tool today—helping scientists better understand and predict severe weather around the globe.

That impact was evident as recently as Hurricane Melissa, where an NSF NCAR AVAPS dropsonde system confirmed record-breaking hurricane-force winds, providing crucial in situ validation of storm intensity.

The meeting will focus on in situ observations using dropsondes and related techniques, their role in forecasting and science, and the evolving needs of the atmospheric science community — exemplified by real-world cases like Hurricane Melissa.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/2026-AVAPS-Group-Meeting

We hope to see you there—register before the deadline!

02/11/2026

Final reminder for our February 19th virtual teacher professional development session "Innovations in Road Weather Science!"
Hosted by the National Science Teaching Association, this session dives into how scientists use weather data, modeling, and emerging technologies to better understand road conditions and improve traffic safety. We'll also explore free K-12 teaching resources designed to help students connect science with real-world scenarios beyond the classroom. Participants will receive a certificate of participation and NSTA activity points.
📅 Feb. 19, 2026
🕔 5:00–6:00 pm MST
💻 Virtual
To learn more or register for this session https://scied.ucar.edu/educators/teacher-professional-development/road-weather-science?utm_source=sm

02/03/2026

✈️Registration is now open for the 2026 AVAPS® Users Group Meeting! 🌤️

Following a successful 2025 meeting last year — where 80+ participants from NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and national and international research teams shared real-world operational lessons, science insights, and technology updates — we’re excited to welcome the AVAPS community back in 2026.

The importance of these conversations was underscored just this past October, when an NSF NCAR AVAPS dropsonde system confirmed record-breaking hurricane-force winds in Hurricane Melissa. That measurement provided critical, in situ validation of extreme storm intensity — exactly the kind of capability this community advances through shared science, operations, and technology.

Last year at the meeting, attendees especially valued:
• Practical discussions on dropsonde operations and data quality
• Direct exchange between forecasters, engineers, and researchers
• Updates on the NSF NCAR AVAPS dropsonde system
• Open conversations on future measurement needs and platforms within the larger severe weather enterprise

🗓 April 28–29, 2026
📍NCAR Foothills Lab | Boulder, CO
🖥 In-person with a Zoom option for virtual participation

The meeting will focus on in situ observations using dropsondes and related techniques, their role in forecasting and science, and the evolving needs of the atmospheric science community — exemplified by real-world cases like Hurricane Melissa.

🔗Learn more and register: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/2026-AVAPS-Group-Meeting

We look forward to another productive and collaborative AVAPS meeting—hope to see you there!

National Science Foundation (NSF)

01/28/2026

Only 24 days until registration closes for the NSF NCAR Radar Technology Community Workshop! 📡📶

Join us March 10–12, 2026, in Boulder, Colorado

What is it? A community-driven workshop bringing together scientists, engineers, federal partners, and industry leaders to:
♦ Assess the state of atmospheric radar systems
♦ Identify priority measurement needs
♦ Explore emerging technologies
♦ Develop actionable recommendations to advance radar capabilities, operations, software, data integration, and workforce development.

Shape the Future🎯 Participate in presentations and breakout sessions to influence community priorities for ground-based, airborne, and shipborne weather radar technologies.

Attendance Options: In-person and virtual attendance is available.

Agenda Available in the Registration System

Register Now! https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=30111

Questions?
Contact the Workshop Co-Chairs:
Dr. Brad Klotz ([email protected])
Dr. Pavlos Kollias ([email protected])

Hosted by the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research.

03/10/2026 — Boulder - Check out all event details and attendee registration right here.

01/07/2026

📢 Just 46 days left to register!

The NSF NCAR Radar Technology Community Workshop closes registration on February 20, 2026.

Join us March 10–12, 2026, in Boulder, Colorado (or virtually!) for a community-driven workshop hosted by the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

This event brings together scientists, engineers, federal partners, and industry leaders to:

🔹Assess the current state of atmospheric radar systems
🔹Identify priority measurement needs
🔹Explore emerging technologies
🔹Develop actionable recommendations for future radar capabilities, operations, software, data integration, and workforce development

Participants will engage in presentations and breakout sessions that help shape community priorities and influence the future of ground-based, airborne, and shipborne weather radar technologies.

🎓 Limited US-based student funding is available.

Don’t miss your chance to take part—register now to help shape the future of atmospheric radar technology.

Link to registration site: https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=30111
Link to EOL website: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/Radar-Technology-Workshop

10/16/2025

MAIRE25: Advancing Methane Monitoring Capabilities

In September 2025, EOL’s Research Aviation Facility supported the Methane Emissions Quantification at scale using the MethaneAIR Imaging Spectrometer (MAIRE25) project, based in Austin, Texas. Using the NSF NCAR Gulfstream V (GV) research aircraft, the campaign demonstrated how advanced airborne sensing can map methane concentrations across wide domains with remarkable precision.

MAIRE25 is designed to refine how methane is detected and quantified— revealing where emissions originate and how they vary across different regions. Equally important, the project demonstrates how next-generation airborne instrumentation can inform the design and calibration of future methane-sensing satellite measurements, expanding what’s possible in environmental research.

For more information: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/news/mowing-lawn-gulfstream-v-airborne-remote-sensing-methane-quantification