Air Resources Laboratory  The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) is an air quality and climate laboratory in the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) which is an operating unit within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. It is one of seven NOAA Research Laboratories (RLs). In October 2005, the Surface Radiation Research Branch of the ARL was merged with five other NOAA labs to form the Earth System Research Laboratory. The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) studies processes and develops models relating to climate and air quality, including the transport, dispersion, transformation and removal of pollutants from the ambient atmosphere. The emphasis of the ARL's work is on data interpretation, technology development and transfer. The specific goal of ARL research is to improve and eventually to institutionalize prediction of trends, dispersion of air pollutant plumes, air quality, atmospheric deposition, and related variables. ARL provides scientific and technical advice to elements of NOAA and other Government agencies on atmospheric science, environmental problems, emergency assistance (Homeland Security), and climate change. ARL's stated goal is to improve the Nation's ability to protect human and ecosystem health while also maintaining a vibrant economy. ARL's headquarters is located in College Park, Maryland (formerly in Silver Spring, Maryland) and the current Acting Director is Dr. Ariel Stein. The headquarters group develops products to augment the operational product suites of the NOAA service-oriented line offices (particularly the National Weather Service). This includes the research and development of improved dispersion models for emergency response and air quality forecast models. The headquarters group also improves the understanding of climate variability and trends, the exchange of pollutants between the air and land, and the sources of mercury that influence sensitive ecosystems. As depicted in the adjacent organization diagram, the ARL operates with four research divisions in Idaho Falls, Idaho; North Las Vegas, Nevada; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: