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NASA's Earth Science Division 2026 Atmosphere Investigator Meeting will provide NASA-funded researchers the opportunity to hear about recent updates with NASA Earth System Science Research (ESSR, formerly Research & Analysis, or “R&A”) and what this means for NASA's Atmospheric Sciences research. Invited participants can provide input on appropriate science questions to help us better set the path forward for NASA funded research over the next decade. This hybrid meeting is hosted at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), Hampton, VA, from 21-24 April 2026.
Please note that most NASA atmospheric research now falls in the newly named “Atmosphere,” so-designated during our recent reorganization around Science Spheres. An overview can be found on our new homepage https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/research/atmosphere/. “Atmosphere” encompasses a wide-ranging swath of Earth Science, and the broad and overarching questions our new sphere intends to address are outlined on the website.
Registration
Kindly note that due to space limitation and badging requirements registration for in-person registration is now closed. To register for virtual (online) attendance please complete the Google form at this link; online registration will close on March 23, 2026.
Agenda Outline
The meeting will follow the general outline illustrated below. Please note that details are subject to change. Updated March 17, 2026.
April 21-22: (all day Tuesday through lunch on Wednesday)
The goal for the first part of the meeting is an open discussion on the NASA research reorganization at NASA Headquarters (HQ), giving participants an opportunity to ask us questions to better understand what it may mean for them going forward, meet with all the new faces at NASA HQ in Atmosphere and other areas in Earth Science, and look for new opportunities to do forward-looking science.
April 22-24: (Wednesday from lunch through all day Friday)
During the second part of the meeting, we will explore the key science areas going forward, and we want the invited participants to step up and help lead the discussions. We have broken up the discussions into six themes with three people leading the synthesis presentations and follow-on breakout discussions. Those discussion themes and leads are:
Clouds/Aerosols: led by Meloë Kacenelenbogen (meloe.s.kacenelenbogen@nasa.gov), Matt Lebsock (matthew.d.lebsock@jpl.nasa.gov), Kerry Meyer (kerry.meyer@nasa.gov)
Atmospheric Dynamics/Thermodynamics: led by Amin Nehrir (amin.r.nehrir@nasa.gov), Derek Posselt (derek.posselt@jpl.nasa.gov), Patrick Duran (patrick.t.duran@nasa.gov)
Tropospheric Composition: led by Glenn Wolfe (glenn.m.wolfe@nasa.gov), Katie Travis (katherine.travis@nasa.gov), Matt Johnson (matthew.s.johnson@nasa.gov)
Stratospheric Composition: led by Qing Liang (qing.liang@nasa.gov), Rei Ueyama (rei.ueyama@nasa.gov), Pam Wales (pamela.a.wales@nasa.gov)
GHG Implications for the Atmosphere: led by Sean Crowell (Sean.crowell@rochester.edu), Junjie Liu (junjie.liu@jpl.nasa.gov), Josh Laughner (josh.laughner@jpl.nasa.gov)
Radiative Balance of the Earth System: led by Patrick Taylor (patrick.c.taylor@nasa.gov), Yolanda Shea (yolanda.shea@nasa.gov), Maria Hakuba (maria.z.hakuba@jpl.nasa.gov)
The discussion leads’ task is to both use their own knowledge/experience of the field and input from YOU, their colleagues, to synthesize what is seen as the most pressing science issues for the NASA Atmosphere to address over the next decade. In order to best facilitate this syntheses, we have set up a Google Form for you to provide additional input. We encourage you to gather your thoughts and provide them over the next few weeks, but no later than April 3rd. This will allow the discussion leads to appropriately take your thoughts and combine them with the others. They may contact you directly to follow up on your thoughts and get potential graphics for their presentations.
Important Information
- NASA participants: Forecasting/tracking this meeting is not required; do not enter this meeting into NCTS (NASA Conference Tracking System) or the new SCTMS (Science Conference and Travel Management System). This is a formal operational meeting with attendance limited to invited participants.
- To join the new NASA Atmosphere mailing list, please send an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to atmosphere-join@espo.nasa.gov (anyone who has registered for the meeting will be subscribed to the new list).
- If you have questions about meeting logistics you may contact Tracy May at NASA LaRC.
