Earth System Research Laboratory: Introduction
![gas equipment in colorado](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216145900im_/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/img/gas200.png)
Oil and gas wells contribute fuel for ozone pollution
![wind turbines](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216145900im_/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/img/diesel200.png)
Black carbon larger cause of climate change than previously assessed
![hot sun](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216145900im_/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/img/hotsun200.png)
Texas heat wave of 2011 largely due to drought, ocean temperatures
![map of us with ozone sites](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216145900im_/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/img/ozonemap20.png)
East/West differences in U.S. ozone pollution
More ESRL News StoriesNOAA Earth System Research Laboratory
Welcome to the Earth System Research Laboratory. ESRL was formed to pursue a broad and comprehensive understanding of the Earth system. This system comprises many physical, chemical and biological processes that need to be dynamically integrated to better predict their behavior over scales from local to global and periods of minutes to millennia.
At ESRL we are working toward a greater stewardship of the Earth through a number of themes aimed at understanding the Earth system processes and changes.
Understanding atmospheric mechanisms that drive the Earth's climate.
- Aerosols: Climate
- Carbon Cycle Science
- Radiative Forcing of Climate by Non-CO2 Atmospheric Gases
- Surface and Planetary Boundary Layer Processes
Assuring the continuing health and restoration of atmospheric resources.
Improving predictions through expanded climate and weather products.
- The Weather-Climate Connection
- Climate and Water Systems
- Regional and Local-scale Assimilation and Modeling
- Global Weather Assimilation and Modeling
- Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT)
Advancing national research capabilities.
- Building a Service-based Grid Computing Infrastructure
- Information Systems
- Observing System Design, Simulation, and Demonstration