Bankhead National Forest Observatory

Understanding the Skies to Advance Our Future: A New Research Site in Alabama

The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a new research initiative in northern Alabama’s Bankhead National Forest to better understand how land, air, and clouds interact in ways that influence weather patterns, air quality, and their combined impacts on the reliability of energy systems. Such work supports national goals related to energy security, environmental health, and the safety and resilience of communities across the country. This long-term research site is collecting a wealth of data using high-tech instruments placed on the ground, on towers, and in the sky. These tools help scientists explore how clouds form and evolve, how sunlight reaches and interacts with the Earth’s surface, how forests and farmlands influence the air we breathe, and how tiny particles in the atmosphere affect local and long-range weather patterns.

Why northern Alabama? This region experiences frequent severe weather, is undergoing dramatic changes in land use, and has diverse terrain types, making it an ideal "natural laboratory" for studying how the natural environment impacts, and is impacted by, human activities including energy production. By closely monitoring these impacts, researchers hope to improve atmospheric predictions, enhance community resilience, and inform decisions about energy, agriculture, and public health. Ultimately, this work provides communities better tools to prepare for extreme weather, effectively manage resources, and build a more energy-secure and impact-ready future.

Bankhead National Forest