Laboratory For Atmospheres 1996 Annual Report

A broad and vigorous science program in NASA is vital for the advancement of knowledge through space research.Scientists at NASA in collaboration with outside scientists play a key role in conceiving new space missions, providing mission requirements, and carrying out research oriented towards explaining the behavior of Earth's and other planetary systems. NASA scientists also supply outside scientists with technical assistance and scientific data.The Laboratory for Atmospheres serves as the focal point of a broad theoretical and experimental research program. The goal of the program is to study all aspects of the atmospheres of the Earth and other planets, including their structural, dynamical, radiative, and chemical properties. The Laboratory is one of four science laboratories of the at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The Laboratory is located in Greenbelt, MD along with the and the. , located in New York, NY, is the fourth science Laboratory in the Directorate. The Directorate also includes the Global Change Data Center and the Space Data and Computing Division (SDCD). The GSFC is the lead center for science and management of the, which is one of the four NASA enterprises. Earth Sciences Directorate Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE)This report is a general statement of the purpose and philosophy of the Laboratory and of its role within NASA. It also includes a broad description of the research areas; information on human resources, scientific interactions, and outreach activities with the outside community; and a selection of the major accomplishments achieved in the Laboratory in calendar year 1996.