The Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change at 35 Years: Achievements and Future Strategy

Abstract. Since 1991, continuous, consistently calibrated and openly archived ground-based measurements from the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) have been collected to investigate processes responsible for decadal-scale changes, anomalies in atmospheric composition, and to validate satellite observations and model simulations. These measurements, from nearly 120 stations, support fundamental research in the area of stratospheric and tropospheric processes impacting ozone chemistry, greenhouse gases, atmospheric radiative forcing, air quality, and interactions with solar radiation and the entire Earth system. NDACC data are supplemented by observations from 11 global Cooperating Networks. The operational principles of Cooperating Networks are well aligned with NDACC objectives and protocols, focusing on data that (a) are high-quality, uniformly processed and traceable to reference standards; and (b) capture short-term (daily to interannual) anomalies and long-term trends. This paper summarizes the NDACC organizational structure. We review the major accomplishments of NDACC since De Mazière et al. (2018), collaborative research with Cooperating Networks, and interactions with the satellite and modeling communities. Ground-based atmospheric composition monitoring is at a crossroads. Challenges include sustainability of human and financial resources required for complex and intensive data collection, technical issues including aging instrumentation, requirements for FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data, and lack of data over most of Asia, Africa and South America. NDACC is well-positioned to adopt a three-pronged strategy going forward: protecting and modernizing existing stations; promoting the growing use of NDACC data; expanding the number of measured species and network coverage in under-sampled or under-reporting regions.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Published
2026-01-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6557
Primary Topic
Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

The Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change at 35 Years: Achievements and Future Strategy

Wolfgang Steinbrecht, S. A. Strode, Glen McConville, Roeland Van Malderen et al.
Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
article

The Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change at 35 Years: Achievements and Future Strategy

Wolfgang Steinbrecht, S. A. Strode, Glen McConville, Roeland Van Malderen, T. Sugita, Voltaire A. Velazco, Henry B. Selkirk, James W. Hannigan, Elizabeth Asher, Günther Seckmeyer, K. Strong, Jeannette Wild, Ryan M. Stauffer, Alberto Redondas, Corinne Vigouroux, Raúl R. Cordero, G. Nedoluha, Daan Hubert, Thierry Leblanc, Anne M. Thompson, Baerbel Vogel, Eliane Maillard Barras, Ivan Ortega, Jean-Christopher Lambert, S. Khaykin, Michel Van Roozendael, Irina Petropavlovskikh, Martine De Mazière, Karin Kreher, Reem A. Hannum, Sophie Godin-Beekmann, Emmanuel Mahieu
article en

Abstract

Abstract. Since 1991, continuous, consistently calibrated and openly archived ground-based measurements from the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) have been collected to investigate processes responsible for decadal-scale changes, anomalies in atmospheric composition, and to validate satellite observations and model simulations. These measurements, from nearly 120 stations, support fundamental research in the area of stratospheric and tropospheric processes impacting ozone chemistry, greenhouse gases, atmospheric radiative forcing, air quality, and interactions with solar radiation and the entire Earth system. NDACC data are supplemented by observations from 11 global Cooperating Networks. The operational principles of Cooperating Networks are well aligned with NDACC objectives and protocols, focusing on data that (a) are high-quality, uniformly processed and traceable to reference standards; and (b) capture short-term (daily to interannual) anomalies and long-term trends. This paper summarizes the NDACC organizational structure. We review the major accomplishments of NDACC since De Mazière et al. (2018), collaborative research with Cooperating Networks, and interactions with the satellite and modeling communities. Ground-based atmospheric composition monitoring is at a crossroads. Challenges include sustainability of human and financial resources required for complex and intensive data collection, technical issues including aging instrumentation, requirements for FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data, and lack of data over most of Asia, Africa and South America. NDACC is well-positioned to adopt a three-pronged strategy going forward: protecting and modernizing existing stations; promoting the growing use of NDACC data; expanding the number of measured species and network coverage in under-sampled or under-reporting regions.

NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (US), Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (BE), Leibniz University Hannover (DE), Ames Research Center (US), United States Naval Research Laboratory (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US), University of Liège (BE), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (US), University of Groningen (NL), Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE), Deutscher Wetterdienst (DE), University of Toronto (CA), University of Colorado Boulder (US), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR), Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BE), National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP), Sorbonne Université (FR), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins (CL), NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (US), Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (FR), Scientific Research and Development (Germany) (DE), NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research (US), Decision Sciences (United States) (US), Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (US), Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales (FR), University of Maryland, College Park (US), University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US), Morgan State University (US)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 79%
Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.