Instrument and Theme Working Groups

NDACC instruments are designed to provide consistent, standardized, long-term measurements of atmospheric trace gases, particles, spectral UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, and physical parameters as depicted.

Observational capabilities graph

The Observational Capability Chart provides a summary of the species and parameters whose measurements are archived in the DHF, the instrumental techniques employed for the measurements, and an indication of the approximate vertical resolution of the measurements.

The Instrument Working Groups (Dobson, Brewer, FTIR, Lidar, Microwave, Sonde, UV/Vis, Spectral UV) have representatives on the NDACC Steering Committee, and oversee instrument and algorithm quality. Most meet every one to two years and are a resource for teams developing new instruments interested in NDACC affiliation.

The Satellite Working Group fosters collaboration between NDACC and satellite missions and provides meteorological data to the NDACC database via NOAA/NCEP.

The Theory and Analysis Working Group promotes the widespread use of NDACC data and supplies model output data from GMI-MERRA at NDACC sites to the database.

Additional Theme Working Groups include: 

  • Combining Trace-Gas Data from Various Networks; 
  • Measurement Strategies and Emphases; Water Vapor Measurement Strategy; and 
  • Ozone.  

The Water Vapor Measurement Strategy Theme Working Group has developed a document outlining the associated strategy for NDACC, available HERE.