AMOF:An internationally leading facility for atmospheric measurements and observatories in the UK

• Main Authors: Hamilton, Jacqui, Westbrook, Chris, Parker, Doug, Nemitz, Eiko, Price, Jeremy, Crosier, Jonathan, Fisher, Rebecca, Bell, Tom, Val Martin, Maria, Vaughan, Geraint, Brooks, Barbara, Gallagher, Martin, Birch, David, Forster, Grant, Bower, Keith, Carpentieri, Matteo, Wyche, Kevin, Manfred, Katherine, Doherty, Ruth, Giorio, Chiara, Ashworth, Kirsti
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: atmospheric science; air quality; Weather; climate; measurements; Iceland
• Online Access: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/publications/40c250e8-21e1-4ebf-bc68-3ce286197b5d; https://cris.brighton.ac.uk/ws/files/24573441/AMOF_statement_of_community_need.pdf; https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScULWVEgkzbZfVCtorV4_ZMw2MvLluA-ULDmFFbvU_GEu6ABA/viewform

To address some of humanity's greatest global challenges, such as climate change, extreme weather events and poor air quality, the atmospheric science community requires access to state of the art instrumentation, observations and expertise. The Atmospheric Measurement and Observation Facility (AMOF) is an existing NERC facility that enables research across a wide range of disciplines, addressing problems in atmospheric dynamics and convection, surface exchange, cloud and aerosol microphysics, atmospheric composition, air quality and greenhouse gases. Our community vision for the next decade is an AMOF that can provide world leading, high quality field observations to improve the representation of complex atmospheric processes, supporting the development of evidence based mitigations. AMOF was launched in 2020 and was a merger between the Atmospheric Measurement Facility (AMF) and the NERC Facility for Atmospheric Radar Research (NFARR). AMOF provides - Instruments to measure atmospheric physical and chemical properties during field experiments and from mobile platforms, remote sensing and surface meteorology, and access to user-configurable instrumentation. (Over 40 instruments, estimated capital value ~ £20 M) - Logistical support, bespoke training and expert instrument scientists to deploy and operate complex instrumentation in the field - Access to observatories (UK: BT Tower, Chilbolton, Weybourne, Capel Dewi. International: Cape Verde, Iceland) and globally unique laboratory facilities (EnFLo wind tunnel). - Nationally accessible calibration facilities to underpin atmospheric measurements and drive best practice and standards Staff required: research scientists (6.31 FTE), operational staff (1.5 FTE) and technical support (2 FTE) To maintain a forward-looking facility, we propose that the community plays a stronger role in determining AMOF’s direction. Existing user groups will be supplemented with research area specific working groups. The current steering group is made up from members of the research ...