The Symposium celebrated 35 years of successful NDACC/NDSC science and operations. It took place from October 27-30, 2025 in Virginia Beach, VA, USA. This was only the third meeting of the larger NDACC community, preceded by 10 and 20-year symposia in Arcachon, France (2001) and Île de La Réunion, France (2011). A shortened Steering Committee meeting followed on Oct 30-31.
Hosted by Hampton University, the Symposium featured six sessions, grouped along NDACC’s key objectives (see www.ndacc.org, ABOUT tab.
- Creating and improving long-term data: Instrumentation, processing, and past, present, and future data-streams
- Validating atmospheric measurements from satellites and from other platforms
- NDACC synergistic environment in support of field campaigns and other chemistry and climate- observing networks
- Synergistic use of models with NDACC and its Cooperating Networks’ data to interpret observations and support model development and verification
- Linking changes in atmospheric composition, climate, and air quality
- Oases in the desert: Measurements that address the impending gaps in atmospheric data
Invited talks lead into each session. The entire program was framed by historical perspective talks from Susan Solomon, Mike Kurylo, and Wolfgang Steinbrecht & Jeannette Wild. All posters were on display throughout the entire symposium. The full program (oral and poster) are available on the NDACC History page.
Up to 80 people attended in person with about 60 more people online. Weather-wise, strong winds and crashing waves on the ocean-front provided a dramatic background for the meeting while keeping symposium participants focused on science discussion and building future collaborations. The Local Organizing Committee with the Scientific Program Committee overcame the challenges posed by the US government shutdown resulting in a very smoothly running meeting in an excellent venue provided by the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel.
The symposium was a great success showcasing excellent long-term data, good science, and also the strong community and positive spirit of NDACC. Our network has provided important data records on atmospheric evolution and composition change. The meeting demonstrated NDACC’s commitment to continue high-quality atmospheric composition data collection, expanding community required research into the future while relying on successful collaborations with Cooperating Networks and international partners. The imminent end of important satellite observations means that ground-based observations, like the ones from NDACC, will be even more important in the future.
In person attendants of the NDACC 35-year Symposium, Oct. 27th to 30th, Virginia Beach
Unlikely highlight of the meeting: Arnoud Apitouley finds this NDACC water vapor / ozone sonde package on the beach in front of the conference hotel. The package had been launched from Wallops Island three days before, and was presented in Holger Vömel’s talk.
Good attendance in the meeting room