Argonne Testbed for Multiscale Observational Science

Operating in some capacity at Argonne National Laboratory since its inception, the facility serves as a research testbed with the capabilities to measure everything from bedrock to the stratosphere.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory is home to the Argonne Testbed for Multiscale Observational Science (ATMOS).

ATMOS is a field research site that houses cutting-edge instruments and world-class experts that observe, record, and interpret complex data to help the country understand and plan for environmental conditions and Earth system extremes. 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 gases like methane and CO2 with the surface of the earth.

ATMOS is a center for workforce development that engages with communities across the region. Students, educators, and others can gain hands-on experience with instrumentation and data. These connections and capabilities make ATMOS a hub for atmospheric research in the Chicago region and a leader in Great Lakes 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 atmospheric conditions and Earth system extremes and their implications for homeowners, businesses, energy consumption and infrastructure 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 Earth systems, atmospheric, and AI for science research.