Innovative science above, on, and below the planet’s surface
LLNL’s missions in national security, energy security, and fundamental science require robust, multidisciplinary research and development in atmospheric, Earth, and energy sciences.
Researchers in the Atmospheric, Earth, & Energy Division (AEED) continually innovate to support these missions to make the world safer, the environment cleaner, and our energy resources more sustainable.
Our key areas of research include seismology, geophysics, geomechanics, geochemistry, atmospheric dispersion, climate modeling and model intercomparison, climate change detection and attribution, and the hydrological and carbon cycles. We also improve and sustain advanced experimental and computational capabilities to better understand the complex interactions among energy production, energy utilization, and the environment.
Our scientists support the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) at LLNL, which specializes in measuring ultralow concentrations of long-lived radioisotopes, the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC), the US Department of Homeland Security’s Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC), as well as programs in energy and environmental security and nonproliferation.
Our mission is to integrate atmospheric, earth, and energy sciences in support of defense and global security. Explore this page to learn about the people, research, and resources that support our mission.
Multiscale atmospheric solutions for defense, energy, nuclear security, and public safety
Group leader: Jessica Cruz
Our group applies techniques such as prognostic and diagnostic simulations, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and field experimentation to diverse atmospheric science challenges. Key areas of our research include:
Accelerating science for LLNL and the nation since 1988
Group leader: Ted Ognibene
Our scientists support the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) at LLNL. With our support, CAMS activities have broad-ranging scientific impacts while also contributing to LLNL mission needs. Scientists working at CAMS have:
Applying expertise in climate modeling, analysis, sensitivity, and impact to address critical national needs
Section leader: Shaocheng Xie
Group leaders:
The Climate Sciences Section is made up of three groups: Climate Analysis, Climate Modeling, and Climate Sensitivity and Impacts. Our section is a recognized leader in basic research into cloud processes, their diagnosis with observations, their parameterization and evaluation in climate models, and their response to climate change.
The Climate Science Section:
To learn about general climate research at LLNL, visit the Climate Program website.
Unique software solutions for subsurface mechanics
Group leader: Eric Herbold
Our group develops and employs cutting-edge software to tackle challenging problems that require understanding and exploiting subsurface processes. A common theme in our work is the employment of novel algorithms on the world’s fastest supercomputers to deliver high-fidelity three-dimensional predictions that include a wide range of coupled physical effects. Our projects support a wide range of applications from energy to defense with national and worldwide significance. Our recent projects include:
Connecting energy and the environment
Group leader: George Peridas
Our group works to study and improve aspects of our energy system that serve climate change mitigation efforts and the public good. We act as a resource to advise and educate the government, communities, businesses, stakeholders, and other institutions on the technical, scientific, policy, environmental, and social aspects of carbon management technologies. Specifically, we focus on:
Advancing the science and engineering of coupled chemistry, mechanics, and multi-phase flow in porous materials
Group leader: Megan Smith
Our group focuses on challenging problems involving both natural and engineered porous materials using experimental methods, numerical modeling, and geophysical monitoring techniques related to fluid flow and reactive transport. We address coupled hydro-chemical-thermal-mechanical phenomena across multiple scales from the laboratory to the field.
Additionally, the group’s work has national security, environmental management, energy, and climate mitigation applications. Examples include:
To accomplish our work, we routinely collaborate with other discipline organizations from across the Laboratory, as well as with external academic and industrial institutions.
Applying geophysical expertise to national and energy security problems
Group leader: Arben Pitarka
Our group is comprised of over 18 earth scientists who have expertise in explosion and earthquake source physics, seismic source detection and discrimination, Earth models, seismic tomography, earthquake location, high-performance computing, engineering seismology, machine learning, data fusion, induced seismicity, and infrasound signals.
In supporting LLNL’s non-proliferation, national security, and energy missions, our researchers:
We’re always looking for talented scientists to join our team.
Browse our open positions or read about our student research opportunities.
Our researchers utilize world-class scientific capabilities and modern high-performance computing facilities to support Laboratory programs. Listed below are LLNL’s state-of-the-art capabilities commonly used by our scientists.