Eastern North Atlantic Observatory
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Eastern North Atlantic Observatory (ENA) is part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility, located on Graciosa Island in the Azores. It focuses on capturing data to enhance the understanding of the marine atmosphere's response to climate change, particularly around cloud formation, aerosol interactions, and precipitation.
Mission
The mission of the ENA Observatory is to gather comprehensive atmospheric data in a marine environment to study how clouds, aerosols, and precipitation interact, especially in the context of climate change. This data helps in refining global and regional climate models, providing insights into the behavior of marine stratocumulus clouds and their role in the Earth's energy balance"Eastern North Atlantic". Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility. https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/observatories/ena..
Parent organization
The ENA Observatory is operated under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility, which falls within the broader framework of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. ARM aims to provide a foundation for climate science through its network of observatories.
Legislation
The ENA Observatory was set up as an extension of the DOE's ARM program, which was launched in 1990 to support climate research. There isn't specific legislation for its creation, but it's part of the DOE's commitment to environmental science.
Partners
- University of the Azores for local support and collaboration
- Various international research institutions that partake in ARM's global research efforts
Number of employees
The exact number of staff directly employed at ENA isn't specified, but it operates with a team including site managers, scientists, and technical staff.
Organization structure
The ENA Observatory functions within ARM's broader organizational structure:
- **Operational Management**: Handled by ARM's management team with a local site manager for oversight.
- **Research Facilitation**: Provides data for a wide array of scientific inquiries into marine atmospheric processes.
Leader
The operations at ENA are managed by a Site Manager.
Divisions
- The ENA site does not have divisions in the traditional sense but operates with various instruments for:
- Cloud and aerosol measurements - Meteorological data collection - Radiation measurements"Eastern North Atlantic". Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility. https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/observatories/ena.
List of programs
- Long-term monitoring of marine atmospheric conditions
- Special field campaigns to focus on specific atmospheric phenomena
Last total enacted budget
The budget for the ENA Observatory specifically isn't publicly itemized, as it's part of the broader ARM User Facility funding.
Staff
ENA operates with a combination of ARM staff, local personnel, and visiting researchers from various institutions.
Funding
Funding for ENA comes through the U.S. Department of Energy's allocation to the ARM User Facility, supporting the collection of atmospheric data in the North Atlantic.
Services provided
The ENA Observatory provides services by collecting detailed atmospheric data, including cloud, aerosol, and precipitation characteristics, which are essential for climate research, model validation, and understanding climate change impacts in marine environments.
Regulations overseen
ENA does not oversee regulations but adheres to scientific and environmental research standards.
Headquarters address
Located on Graciosa Island, Azores, but an exact address isn't provided.
History
The ENA Observatory was established in 2013 on Graciosa Island to extend ARM's reach into the marine boundary layer. It has since been pivotal in providing data for understanding the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols, and the climate system in the North Atlantic.