Engineering and technical expertise, mechanical design, and fabrication

Major advances in radar technology have paved the way for the development of an Airborne Phased Array Radar (APAR) system that can provide unprecedented detailed observations of the dynamics and microphysics of high-impact storms such as hurricanes and mesoscale convective systems. The APAR currently under design by NCAR/EOL consists of four removable C-band Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) mounted on the top, both sides, and the cargo door of the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft.

Scientific programs from all over the world rely on the capabilities of EOL's Design and Fabrication Services to create innovative engineering solutions and highest quality machining and repair services of new and existing highly-specialized instrumentation used on every imaginable platform.

LOTOS is a proposed sensor network to sample the atmospheric boundary layer and land-atmosphere interface, and will be a transportable integrated network of up to five nodes, each consisting of a suite of profiling instruments surrounded by up to fifteen flux measuring towers.

The EOL calibration laboratory is used in the evaluation and calibration of in-situ meteorological sensors. The laboratory has the capability to simulate the full range of pressure, temperature, humidity, altitude, and wind speed to which meteorological sensors are typically exposed. The lab can also be used to evaluate the performance of instrumentation when exposed to varying environmental conditions. Pressure, humidity, and temperature references are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) primary standards.

EOL's world-class scientists and engineers are renowned for their expertise and contributions to the atmospheric science community via their publications. EOL is honored to share the excellent work of our staff through their publications, papers, and presentations.