CSL Communications

Education & Outreach

CSL believes strongly in the need to foster the next generation of atmospheric scientists and to make CSL science accessible to numerous stakeholders and user groups. CSL scientists host interns, advise graduate students and post doctorate fellows, and participate in K-12 and college educational events. In addition to engaging in educational efforts, CSL scientist also participate in outreach efforts, promoting and translating research through a variety of communication products that are customized to an array of audiences – our stakeholders and the public. CSL delivers cohesive messages on its scientific research in ways that are meaningful and actionable through peer-reviewed publications, fact sheets and reports, assessments, videos, posters, StoryMaps, and presentations. Through its education and outreach efforts, CSL aims to cultivate a science informed society.

scientific research and the interconnections

Explore and Learn About Atmospheric Chemistry & Composition

CSL's mission is to advance scientific understanding of the chemical and physical processes that affect Earth's atmospheric composition. CSL uses state-of-the-art instruments and models, world-class laboratory studies, and unparalleled field campaigns to perform research on key societal issues including air quality, climate, and the stratosphere. The atmosphere is one of the integrators of the Earth system and knows no boundaries. Therefore, the three research themes of CSL overlap with each other indicating that one theme cannot be researched without understanding the other themes. This integrated approach to atmospheric chemistry and composition research at CSL fosters a vibrant, robust, and collaborative atmospheric research environment across its eight research programs.

StoryMap: The pandemic and air quality. CSL's Brian McDonald contributed extensively to the content. StoryMap: NOAA Office of Education
Ask a Scientist - Fireworks. Steve Brown explains the science behind fireworks colors. Video: WeatherNation

9News Denver: Colorado ranks near the top among US states with poor air quality – Research scientist Matt Coggon talks about how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to poor air quality. 22 April 2024

SLATE What It's Like Series: Where There's Smoke – CSL's Carsten Warneke tells us what it's like to fly through a 'monster' plume of wildfire smoke. 4 November 2023

NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS): How a College Student Turned Pandemic Restrictions into an Opportunity to Conduct Research Using NASA Supercomputers – Carleton College physics major Henry Bowman studied ozone for an international research project, that he began as a summer research intern at CSL. 29 June 2022

The Coloradan: Breath of Fresh Air – Research scientist Jessica Gilman gives a bird's-eye view of how wildfires and the pandemic are changing the climate and affecting our health. 18 March 2021

Why Study Wildfires
Why Study Wildfires

CSL News: CSL at NOAA Boulder 8th Grade Science Days 9 October 2020

The Particles We Breathe. Matt Coggon describes what creates air pollution, or smog, and demonstrates smog produced from just a lemon. Video: NOAA ESRL

Colorado Public Radio (CPR): Why Your Deodorant Puts The Stuff That Comes Out Of Your Tailpipe To Shame – Research scientist Matt Coggon tells Colorado Matters about his work measuring these emissions from our bodies. 22 May 2018

Research scientist Matt Coggon authors The Conversation: Your shampoo, hair spray and skin lotion may be polluting the air 11 May 2018

Ask a Scientist - What makes the air smelly?. Chelsea Thompson explains the science behind why air can be smelly. Video: NOAA Boulder
Do You NOAA - Research on Planes. Chelsea Thompson explains how NOAA uses airplanes to research the atmosphere, and what it is like to spend a month flying around the world. Video: NOAA Boulder

Climate scientist Amy Butler is an author, editor, and moderator for NOAA Climate.gov: Welcome to the Polar Vortex Blog 5 December 2023

Recently named expert for the Climate Central Winter Weather Bulletin, climate scientist Amy Butler interviewed for AccuWeather: Warmer winter temperature trend worries experts 2 December 2021

The Coloradan: Breath of Fresh Air – Research scientist Jessica Gilman gives a bird's-eye view of how wildfires and the pandemic are changing the climate and affecting our health. 18 March 2021

CSL News: CSD Scientist Sean Davis at TEDx Event on Climate & Change 17 September 2017

Lessons from the world avoided. 30 years after signing of The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the "World's most successful environmental treaty," the ozone layer is beginning to heal. Climate scientist Sean Davis reflects on this environmental success story and the world we've avoided by our efforts to save the ozone layer, and offers lessons we can carry forward in addressing the environmental crisis of our time – global warming. Video: TEDx Talks
Ask a Scientist - Why does it get so cold in winter?. Amy Butler explains why it can get so cold in the winter. You'll learn about the jet stream and the polar vortex. Video: NOAA Boulder
Do You NOAA - Jet Stream and Polar Vortex. Amy Butler explains what the polar vortex is and how it interacts with the jet stream. Video: NOAA Boulder
Do You NOAA - Research on Planes. Chelsea Thompson explains how NOAA uses airplanes to research the atmosphere, and what it is like to spend a month flying around the world. Video: NOAA Boulder

The New York Times: You'll Want to Take Notes, Folks. There Will Be a Test. – NOAA Aeronomy Lab Director Daniel L. Albritton briefing on Climate Change: What We Know & What We Don't Know 10 June 2001

CIRES Education & Outreach Science-at-Home: Polar Vortex 29 April 2020

The Stratosphere: How winds miles above us can be used to predict the weather weeks in advance. Amy Butler focused on why she became an atmospheric scientist, presented a brief overview of the stratosphere and the ozone layer, and discussed how we might use information about the stratospheric polar vortex to make extended-range weather forecasts. Video: CIRES

Climate scientist Amy Butler is an author, editor, and moderator for NOAA Climate.gov: Welcome to the Polar Vortex Blog 5 December 2023

Climate scientist Amy Butler co-authors The Conversation: What exactly is the polar vortex? 9 February 2020

NOAA Climate.gov: Understanding the Arctic polar vortex 5 March 2021

Climate scientist Amy Butler is a guest author at NOAA Climate.gov: El Niño and the stratospheric polar vortex 8 April 2016

Climate scientist Amy Butler is a guest author at NOAA Climate.gov: February and March madness: How winds miles above the Arctic may have brought wintry weather to mid-latitudes 27 April 2018

Do You NOAA - . Amy Butler explains what the polar vortex is and how it interacts with the jet stream. Video: NOAA Boulder
Do You NOAA - Research on Planes. Chelsea Thompson explains how NOAA uses airplanes to research the atmosphere, and what it is like to spend a month flying around the world. Video: NOAA Boulder

NOAA NESDIS: Peeling Back the Layers of the Atmosphere

layers of our atmosphere

The mesosphere begins at an altitude of about 50 kilometers (30 miles), as temperature begins to decrease with altitude.

The stratosphere begins about 9-12 kilometers (16-17 kilometers in the tropics) above Earth's surface. The stratosphere is heated from above (primarily as oxygen and ozone absorb solar ultraviolet radiation). Temperature in the stratosphere increases with altitude. In this region (Latin: stratum, layer), mixing is much slower and the ozone layer is found here.

The troposphere begins at the Earth's surface, which acts as a source of heat resulting from absorption of visible sunlight. The temperature decreases with height in the troposphere, and so the air is well mixed in this region (Greek: tropos, a turning). Weather occurs in this layer, and most commercial airliners fly in it.

Browse Communications & Education Products

Research StoryMaps
Research StoryMaps
Fact Sheets & Handouts
Fact Sheets & Handouts
Scientific Assessments
Scientific Assessments
Research Posters
Research Posters
News & Events
News & Events
Video
Video

Internship & Training Opportunities

Hollings Scholar at CSL

Undergraduate/Graduate Student Opportunities

NOAA Hollings Scholars

The NOAA Ernst F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship program provides multiyear scholarships and internship opportunities for undergraduates across the U.S.

NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunities (NERTO)

The NOAA Experiential Research & Training Opportunities (NERTO) program provides opportunities for graduate students at other research institutions to complete a 12 week to 1 year long research project in CSL.

Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS)

NOAA scientists may serve as mentors in the NCAR/UCAR Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program, which provides internship opportunities in Atmospheric Sciences in one of several research institutions in Boulder, Colorado.

Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS)

The Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS) is a paid summer research internship program open to all Colorado community college students, to give them an authentic research experience at CU Boulder, or the NOAA Laboratories through CIRES, to explore environmental or geosciences.

Lapenta NOAA Student Internship Program

The Lapenta NOAA Student Internship Program is a fulltime summer internship open to 2nd/3rd year undergraduate and graduate students, to work in areas providing robust research and/or operational experience that will prepare the student for further study in NOAA fields, for application to fellowships or for the NOAA-mission workforce.

Postdoctoral Opportunities

National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship

The National Research Council (NRC) Research Associateship Programs provide funding for research projects at U.S. federal laboratories. There are four application cycles per year.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

The NSF Special Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows provide funding for postdoctoral research or identify programs that focus on educational developments for postdoc students such as curricula development, training or retention.

Additional Opportunities

CIRES Visiting Fellowship

The CIRES Visiting Fellows Program offers two year fellowships on the CU campus or the NOAA Laboratories, including CSL. Applications are typically due in January.