Scientists can propose for new missions or request to analyze aerosol samples collected on flights
The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility has two proposal calls open simultaneously for its tethered balloon systems (TBS).
For fiscal year 2026 (FY2026), ARM is now accepting preliminary proposals for TBS missions while also participating in a joint call with the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). Like ARM, EMSL is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility.
The ARM/EMSL call is supported through the Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) program. At no cost to them, FICUS awardees can use world-class ARM and EMSL resources and collaborate with scientific staff from both user facilities.
Through the new FICUS call, researchers can apply to use EMSL instruments to collect samples of aerosols and volatile organic compounds on ARM TBS flights and then conduct analysis using advanced laboratory techniques at EMSL. For information about the EMSL instruments available for this call, read the ARM/EMSL FICUS FY2026 solicitation.
FICUS applicants may propose to analyze samples from past TBS missions or from planned missions at ARM’s Bankhead National Forest (BNF) atmospheric observatory in northwestern Alabama or as part of ARM’s Coast-Urban-Rural Atmospheric Gradient Experiment (CoURAGE) in Baltimore, Maryland.
The ARM-only call is for projects that do not require EMSL instruments and sample analysis.
For both the ARM-only and FICUS calls, applicants may propose FY2026 TBS missions for the BNF or ARM’s Southern Great Plains observatory in north-central Oklahoma. Mission proposals will also be considered for ARM’s Desert-Urban SysTem IntegratEd AtmospherIc Monsoon (DUSTIEAIM) field campaign in Phoenix, Arizona, for the period of April through September 2026.
ARM plans to fly approximately six to eight TBS missions in FY2026. For each mission, 14 flight days are expected. Learn about parameters for proposing new missions on ARM’s TBS guidelines page.
Awarded projects from the ARM-only and FICUS calls will start no earlier than Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Submission and Deadline Information
Proposals requesting the EMSL instruments and sample analysis must be submitted to the ARM/EMSL FICUS FY2026 solicitation.
FICUS submissions will require a letter of intent to facilitate the planning of the peer-review process, ensure alignment of proposals to ARM and EMSL missions and capabilities, and assist users in building strong proposals. More information about letter-of-intent requirements is available on this FICUS guidance web page.
Proposals for the ARM-only call will follow the review procedure outlined for ARM TBS field campaigns and must be submitted through ARM’s Propose a Field Campaign page.
The due date to submit preproposals for TBS missions through the ARM-only call is the same as the deadline to submit letters of intent for the FICUS call: Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
Get More Information: ARM TBS Webinar
For people interested in participating in either call and/or using TBS data in their research, ARM hosted a TBS webinar in January 2024. The webinar included information about ARM’s TBS capabilities and data. Watch the webinar recording now.
# # #ARM is a DOE Office of Science user facility operated by nine DOE national laboratories.