ARM focuses on obtaining continuous measurements—supplemented by field campaigns—and providing data products that promote the advancement of earth system models.

The Southern Great Plains (SGP)[3] atmospheric observatory was the first field measurement site established by the ARM user facility.

Scientists use data from the SGP to learn about cloud, aerosol and atmospheric processes, which in turn leads to improvements in models of the Earth’s climate.

The SGP observatory consists of in situ and remote-sensing instrument clusters arrayed across approximately 9,000 square miles in north-central Oklahoma and south Kansas.

The North Slope of Alaska (NSA)[4] atmospheric observatory provides data about cloud and radiative processes at high latitudes.