Daily Bulletin

Read the article: Atmospheric instrument hitches ride on Antarctic flights to study carbon

December 22, 2025

The Southern Ocean Carbon Gas Observatory (SCARGO) project, led by NSF NCAR scientists, is transforming routine New York Air National Guard supply flights into mobile climate labs. They use a compact, wheel-mounted laser instrument on LC-130 aircraft to frequently collect atmospheric data over the remote Southern Ocean, cleverly utilizing existing logistics.

Utilizing CISL-supported resources like AMPS for flight scheduling, the team is collecting crucial vertical carbon dioxide profiles. These advancements clarify how the Southern Ocean sequesters carbon in its deep waters. This season's results will provide concrete data to refine global climate models, helping predict how this massive natural carbon sink will react to global changes.

To learn more about the SCARGO project and Antarctic research, read the UCAR News story by Audrey Merket.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.