Earth System Research Laboratories

Chemical Sciences Laboratory The Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) advances scientific understanding of the chemical and physical processes that affect Earth's atmospheric composition and climate. Global Monitoring Laboratory The Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) researches greenhouse gas and carbon cycle feedbacks, changes in clouds, aerosols, and surface radiation, and the recovery of stratospheric ozone. Global Systems Laboratory The Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) develops next-generation weather forecast models, decision support tools, visualization systems, and uses high-performance computing technology to support a Weather-Ready Nation. Physical Sciences Laboratory The Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) conducts weather, climate, and hydrologic research to effectively anticipate and respond to the challenges of hydrologic extremes. Evaporative Demand Drought Index The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental tool used by the laboratory for monitoring and early warning of drought conditions. It assesses how unusual the atmospheric evaporative demand, also referred to as "the thirst of the atmosphere", is for specific locations over various time periods. == History ==

On October 1, 2005, NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory, Climate Diagnostics Center, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Environmental Technology Laboratory, and Forecast Systems Laboratory were merged into four divisions of the newly formed Earth System Research Laboratory. These were the Chemical Sciences Division, Global Monitoring Division, Global Systems Division, and Physical Sciences Division. On April 2, 2020, NOAA designated the four divisions of the Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder as full laboratories within the NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research line office to meet recent shifts in mission-essential priorities. The four laboratories retained their core research missions and continue to collaborate closely with each other and other NOAA Research laboratories to improve understanding and ability to predict changes in Earth's atmosphere, climate, and weather. == References ==