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Atmospheric Observing Systems
Design and development of observing systems capable of measuring atmospheric conditions across environments where conventional networks may not provide sufficient spatial, temporal, or environmental resolution.
Instrumentation
Building the observing systems needed to measure the atmosphere.
TARL develops atmospheric observing systems for environments where the questions being asked require measurements beyond what conventional observing networks can provide.
Instrumentation Mission
Instrumentation designed around the scientific question.
Atmospheric observing systems are most useful when they are designed around the processes they are intended to resolve. TARL approaches instrumentation as an extension of the research process rather than as a separate technological objective.
This means that sensor selection, platform architecture, deployment configuration, power, communications, and data acquisition can all be adapted to the environment and scientific requirements of an individual investigation.
Core Capabilities
From individual sensors to complete observing systems.
TARL's instrumentation work spans sensing, system architecture, deployment, data acquisition, and field integration.
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Modular Sensor Platforms
Configurable platforms designed around interchangeable sensors, data acquisition hardware, power systems, communications, and deployment requirements.
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Field-Deployable Systems
Portable observing systems designed for temporary deployments, targeted field campaigns, mobile observations, and rapidly changing atmospheric environments.
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Environmental Measurement
Measurement of atmospheric and environmental variables including wind, temperature, moisture, pressure, precipitation, radiation, and other parameters required by individual investigations.
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Data Acquisition & Telemetry
Integration of sensing hardware with data logging, communications, power management, and supporting infrastructure needed to collect reliable observations in the field.
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Research-Driven Instrument Design
Instrumentation designed around scientific questions, allowing observing systems to evolve according to the physical processes, environments, and measurement requirements of each investigation.
Systems in Development
Developing the next generation of field observation.
TARL's instrumentation program is actively evolving. Current development focuses on building flexible observing platforms capable of supporting future atmospheric field research.
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In Development
Modular Atmospheric Observing Platform
A configurable observing platform being developed to support interchangeable atmospheric sensors, integrated data acquisition, power management, communications, and multiple deployment configurations.
Development
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Future Development
Distributed Field Observing Network
A future network architecture intended to allow multiple observing platforms to operate together during targeted field campaigns and terrain-focused atmospheric investigations.
Development
Development Process
From an observing requirement to a field-ready system.
Instrument development follows the scientific and operational requirements of the deployment. Systems are designed, constructed, tested, deployed, and refined as field experience reveals new requirements.
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Define
Identify the atmospheric process, measurement requirement, deployment environment, and scientific objective that the system must support.
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Design
Develop the physical architecture, sensor configuration, power system, data acquisition approach, communications, and deployment strategy.
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Build
Construct and integrate the hardware and supporting systems into a field-ready observing platform.
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Test
Evaluate sensors, system behavior, power performance, data integrity, environmental durability, and operational reliability.
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Deploy
Place the observing system in controlled or field environments where measurements can address the original scientific objective.
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Improve
Use field experience and collected observations to refine hardware, software, deployment methods, and future system generations.
Field Integration
Instrumentation becomes valuable when it produces useful observations.
TARL integrates instrumentation directly into field research so that observing systems are evaluated in the environments and atmospheric conditions for which they were designed.
Field deployments may involve individual instruments, mobile observing platforms, temporary networks, or larger coordinated observing strategies depending on the scientific objective.
Research & Technology
When existing observations are not enough, build what is needed.
TARL's instrumentation program exists to close the gap between the atmospheric questions being asked and the observations available to answer them.
This connection between research and engineering allows observing systems to evolve alongside the scientific program, creating new opportunities for field measurement, analysis, and understanding.
Instrumentation Collaboration
Have a measurement problem that requires a different approach?
TARL welcomes conversations involving atmospheric observation, field instrumentation, sensor integration, observing systems, research deployments, and technical development.
Contact TARL→