The U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) supports research, facilities and education on atmospheric processes and the planet's interactions with the sun.
What we support
AGS advances research on Earth's atmosphere and the broader sun-Earth system. The division supports research, education and infrastructure that enable explorations into processes ranging from atomic-level chemical reactions, like microscopic cloud processes, to large-scale phenomena, like hurricanes, El Niño and solar coronal mass ejections.
AGS-supported investigators conduct laboratory, field and modeling studies to deepen our understanding of the natural processes that affect Earth and space.
Core clusters
AGS is organized into three clusters to maintain the division's ongoing investments in disciplinary-based research while removing barriers to cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Atmosphere Cluster
The Atmosphere Cluster (AC) supports research on atmospheric processes from the Earth's surface to the stratosphere and from timescales of nanoseconds to millennia. Core research areas include the chemical, physical and dynamical processes in the atmosphere that impact clouds, weather, climate, air quality and the water cycle.
Geospace Cluster
The Geospace Cluster (GC) supports research about the Earth's near-space environment and its interaction with the sun. The GC will advance knowledge of fundamental processes in the Sun-Earth system and how those processes can impact society.
Research Infrastructure Cluster
The Infrastructure Cluster (IC) oversees facilities that enable research in the atmospheric and geospace sciences communities:
- NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSFNCAR): NSF NCAR is a federally funded research and development center in Boulder, Colorado. NSF NCAR is managed under a cooperative agreement between NSF and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
- NSF Wyoming King Air research aircraft: This aircraft supports research projects on atmospheric chemistry, cloud physics, aerosols, air quality and energy exchange between the surface of the Earth and its lower atmosphere. The NSF Wyoming King Air is operated under an NSF Cooperative Agreement with the University of Wyoming.
The IC also supports atmospheric community instrumentation proposals, facilities for geospace studies and efforts to enhance data accessibility.
Who we are
AGS includes federal employees and scientists from research institutions in temporary positions through the "Intergovernmental Personnel Act."
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