Air Resources Laboratory

Atmospheric Dispersion link - factory smoke, photo courtesy of U.S.EPA

Volcanic Ash Modeling link - photo of Mt. Augustine volcano eruption

Wildfire Smoke Forecasting link - photo of forest fire and smoke

HYSPLIT model link - image of HYSPLIT plume above Baltimore, MD

The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) conducts research and development in the fields of air quality, atmospheric dispersion, climate, and boundary layer science. Key activities include the development, evaluation, and application of air quality models; improvement of approaches for predicting atmospheric dispersion of hazardous materials; and the generation of new insights into air-surface exchange and climate variability and trends.

Our Mission is to improve the ability of the Nation to protect human and ecosystem health and to support a vibrant economy through advanced atmospheric sciences and technologies.

ARL is headquartered in College Park, Maryland with divisions in Oak Ridge,Tennessee (ATDD), Idaho Falls, Idaho (FRD), and Las Vegas, Nevada (SORD).

Laboratory Highlight

ARL Evaluates Meteorological Aspects of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

ARL's Roland Draxler participated on a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Task Team to evaluate the meteorological aspects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. The evaluation report is now available.