Atmospheric Measurement and Observation Facility (AMOF)

The UK’s atmospheric science community is getting a single, unified facility to manage all its field measurements, from instrument deployment to data delivery. This matters because atmospheric research—whether on air pollution, weather patterns, or climate change—depends on reliable, high-quality observational data. Currently, researchers must navigate separate facilities and inconsistent data standards. AMOF eliminates that fragmentation by merging the Atmospheric Measurement Facility (AMF) and the National Facility for Atmospheric Research and Radar (NFARR) into one “one-stop-shop.” It sets clear operating procedures, aligns with international standards like ACTRIS, and works closely with the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) to ensure data is properly archived and accessible. If successful, AMOF will make atmospheric fieldwork simpler and more efficient. Researchers will spend less time wrestling with logistics and data formats, and more time on science. The facility will support both short-term instrument deployments and long-term observatory sites, enabling studies that require sustained, high-quality measurements. This is primarily an infrastructure project—it does not itself answer a specific scientific question, but it underpins the fundamental and applied atmospheric science that informs air quality policy, weather forecasting, and climate models. A new website (www.amof.ac.uk) will serve as the main user interface, launching on 11 March 2020.