About SORD
Mission
To conduct basic and applied research on problems of mutual interest to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of Energy (DOE), that relate to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS)(formerly known as Nevada Test Site), its atmospheric environment, and its emergency preparedness and emergency response activities. The topics of such research include atmospheric dispersion, particle re-suspension, particle deposition, and the effects of airborne particles on atmospheric opacity. The laboratory is set up to provide air dispersion and atmospheric sciences support to DOE/NNSA/NFO operations at the NNSS and elsewhere, as required.
History
SORD has had a presence on the NNSS since 1957, supporting national defense missions of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the Environmental Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and now DOE. During this tenure, SORD has added significantly to our knowledge of atmospheric processes over complex terrain, to techniques for predicting the atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition of radioactive materials, to information on thunderstorm and precipitation processes in a desert environment, to the development of meso-scale forecast techniques, and to the organization of a unique emergency response capability.
To meet the challenge of providing meteorological information for DOE/NV, SORD has built a core of highly skilled and experienced professional and technical personnel. In addition, SORD has assembled a comprehensive inventory of meteorological equipment, has established a reputation for quality work, and has become a valuable resource to DOE. SORD personnel are the experts in Range Meteorology for DOE/NNSA/NFO.
Meteorological support to DOE/NV has included meteorological monitoring, weather forecast services tailored to customer needs, Climatological analyses and summaries, emergency response assistance, mission oriented research, and a mobile remote-sensing capability. SORD is also part of the NOAA Integrated Surface Irradiance Study project, designed to measure and evaluate the solar radiant energy resource.
SORD meteorologists and technical personnel also support the Non-Proliferation Testing and Evaluation Complex (NPTEC), Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST), Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC), Accident Response Group (ARG), the Yucca Mountain Project Office, and special projects on the NNSS. SORD scientists serve on panels and committees that address meteorological issues of national importance, such as, the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel, the DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council, the Range Commanders Council, and work with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.