Overview
The mission of the Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory is to conduct research to understand the physics and dynamics of atmospheric processes through the use of satellite, aircraft and surface-based remote sensing observations and computer-based simulations. Key areas of investigation are cloud and precipitation systems and their environments from the scale of individual clouds and thunderstorms through mesoscale convective systems and cyclonic storms, and up to the scale of the impact of these systems on regional and global climate. The processes associated with the interaction of the atmosphere with the underlying land and ocean surfaces are also of high priority. Development of advanced remote-sensing instrumentation (including lidar, passive microwave and radar) and techniques to measure meteorological parameters in the troposphere is an important focus.
The Laboratory plays key science leadership roles in the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, launched in 2014, and the Earth System Observatory–Atmospheric Observing System (ESO–AOS) mission, which is being developed for launch in the late 2020s to address high-priority research topics tied to aerosols, clouds, and precipitation identified in the 2017 NASA Earth Science Decadal Survey.
Contact Us
George Huffman
301.614.6308
george.j.huffman@nasa.gov
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.
The GPM Outreach Team developed a visualization and web story about heavy rainfall in the Southwest U.S. from Hurricane Hilary, the first tropical storm to strike California since 1939. The animation was developed by Jason West (619/KBR), and the story was written by Stephen Lang (612/SSAI) with edits by Jacob Reed (617/Telophase). Jacob posted the story to the website and helped share the story on 