Gathering information on Earth’s changing climate is key to understanding the challenges ahead. That’s why the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory supports the Argonne Testbed for Multiscale Observational Science (ATMOS).

ATMOS is home to cutting-edge instruments and world-class experts that observe, record, and interpret complex data to help the country become resilient to changes in climate. Located on the southwest corner of Argonne’s border, the nearly 20-acre site covers a mixture of disturbed and undisturbed land right next door to world class facilities like the Advanced Photon Source and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility.

Out in the field, there are nearly 60 instruments deployed at any given time taking measurements on temperature, wind, rain, radiation, and the interaction between greenhouse gases like methane and CO2 with the surface.

ATMOS will become a center for workforce development that engages with underserved communities in the greater Chicago region. Students, educators, and others will gain hands-on experience with instrumentation and data. These connections and capabilities will position ATMOS as the hub for atmospheric research in the Chicago region and a leader in Great Lakes science. 

Community Research on Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS)

CROCUS is an Urban Integrated Field Laboratory established by Argonne with help from academic and community organizations and civic and industry champions. CROCUS studies urban climate change and its implications for environmental justice in the Chicago region.

As the instrumentation headquarters of CROCUS, ATMOS supports research, enables regional collaborations, and serves as a testbed for the intersection of climate, atmospheric, and AI for science research.