Although models, theoretical studies and laboratory work play a major role in the atmospheric sciences, ultimately new theories and model simulations must be tested and evaluate through observations of the state of the atmosphere. The work of Prof. McFarquhar’s group at the University of Oklahoma has concentrated on using observations and multi-scale models in combination in order to improve the representation of clouds in weather and climate models. The measurements are made using aircraft to fly through clouds, measuring the microphysical properties of clouds in-situ. Because cloud properties vary considerably depending upon formation mechanism, height and geographic location, field experiments have been conducted in a wide variety of locations (illustrated above) to better understand what causes variability in cloud properties. Click on the project name below to see some highlights of the project and the group members in action (topics, sponsors and aircrafts reflect the McFarquhar group effort and may represent a subset of the funding agencies and aircraft involved in the project).
| Project | Year | Base | Sponsor | Topic | Aircraft |
| Cold-Air outbreak Experiment in Sub-Arctic Region (CAESAR) | 2024 | Kiruna, Sweden | NSF | Cold air outbreaks and cloud-aerosol interactions | NSF C130 |
| Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation and Environment (ESCAPE) | 2022 | Houston, TX | NSF | How aerosols, meteorology and surface forcing affect microphysics of thunderstorms | NRC Convair 580 and SPEC Learjet |
| Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER) | 2022 | Houston, TX | DOE | Aerosol impacts on convection | DOE ARM Mobile Facility |
| Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) | 2020, 2022, 2023 | Wallops, Virginia | NASA | East coast snowstorms | NASA P-3 and ER-2 |
| Cold Air Outbreaks in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE) | 2019-20 | Andenes, Norway | DOE | Cold air outbreaks | DOE ARM Mobile Facility |
| Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment (CAMP2Ex) | 2019 | Philippines | NASA | Cloud-aerosol interactions | NASA P-3 |
| Observations of Aerosols Above Clouds and their Interactions (ORACLES) 2018 | 2017-18 | Sao Tome, Africa | NASA | Biomass aerosol effects on clouds | NASA P-3 |
| Southern Ocean Cloud Radiation Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES) | 2018 | Hobart, Australia | NSF | Southern Ocean Clouds | NCAR G-V |
| Measurements of Aerosols, Radiation and Clouds over the Southern Oceans (MARCUS) | 2017/18 | Hobart, Australia | DOE | Southern Ocean Clouds | Aurora Australis Icebreaker |
| Observations of Aerosols Above Clouds and their Interactions (ORACLES) 2016 | 2016 | Walvis Bay, Namibia | NASA | Biomass aerosol effects on clouds | NASA P-3 and ER-2 |
| Olympic Mountain Experiment (OLYMPEX) | 2015 | Seattle, Washington | NASA and DOE | Orographic and mixed-phase clouds | NASA DC-8, ER-2 and UND Citation |
| Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) | 2015 | Salina, Kansas | NSF and DOE | Nocturnal convection | NOAA P-3 and others |
| High Ice Water Content-2 | 2015 | Cayenne, French Guiana | NSF | Clouds with high ice contents | French Falcon and NRC Convair 580 |
| High Ice Water Content | 2014 | Darwin, Australia | NSF | Clouds with high Ice contents | French Falcon |
| Instrument Development and Education in Atmospheric Science-4 (IDEAS-4) | 2011 | Boulder, Colorado | NSF/DOE | Characterizing cloud probes | NCAR C-130 |
| Profiling of Winter Storms (PLOWS) | 2009/10 | Peoria, Illinois | NSF | Snowbands in mid-latitude cyclones | NCAR C-130 |
| Small Particles in Cirrus (SPARTICUS) | 2009/10 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | DOE | Mid-latitude cirrus | SPEC Learjet |
| RACORO | 2009 | Guthrie, Oklahoma | DOE | Clouds with low liquid contents | CIRPAS Twin Otter |
| Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) | 2007 | Houston, Texas | DOE | Cloud land surface interaction | NASA ER-2 |
| Gulf of Mexico Aerosol Cloud Composition Study (GoMACCS) | 2006 | Houston, Texas | NOAA | Aerosol impacts on cumuli | Multiple aircraft |
| NASA African Multidisciplinary Monsoon Analysis (NAMMA) | 2006 | Cape Verde Islands, Africa | NASA | Saharan dust impact on tropical cyclones | NASA DC-8 |
| Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) | 2006 | Darwin, Australia | DOE | Tropical convection and cirrus | Proteus |
| Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) | 2005 | San Jose, Costa Rica | NASA | Hurricane genesis and intensification | NASA ER-2 |
| Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (M-PACE) | 2004 | Prudhoe Bay, Alaska | DOE | Mixed-phase arctic clouds | UND Citation; Proteus |
| Alliance Icing Research Study II (AIRS II) | 2003 | Cleveland, Ohio | NSF | Aircraft icing | NCAR C-130 |
| Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment (BAMEX) | 2003 | Pasquotah, Illinois | NSF | Bow echoes and MCSs | NOAA and NRL P-3 |
| Convection and Moisture Experiment-4 (CAMEX-4) | 2001 | Jacksonville, Florida | NASA | Land-falling hurricanes | NASA DC-8 and ER-2 |
| Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) | 1999 | Male, Maldives | NSF | Aerosol effects on clouds | NCAR C-130 |
| Texas Florida Underpass Experiment (TEFLUN-A) | 1998 | College Station, Texas | NASA | TRMM Satellite validation | NASA DC-8 |
| SUCCESS | 1996 | Salina, Kansas | NASA | Contrails | NASA DC-8 and ER-2 |
| Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment (CEPEX) | 1993 | Nadi, Fiji | NSF/NASA | Tropical cirrus | Aeromet Learjet and NASA ER-2 |
| Canadian Atlantic Storms Program -2 (CASP-2) | 1992 | St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada | Canada | Canadian winterstorms | NRC Convair 580, ground radar |
| Malaysian Rain Studies | 1990 | Penang, Malaysia | Canada/Malaysia | Warm rain studies | King Air and ground radar |
