# Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere

> research institute at Colorado State University

**Wikidata**: [Q5167900](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5167900)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative_Institute_for_Research_in_the_Atmosphere)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cooperative-institute-for-research-in-the-atmosphere

## Summary
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) is a research institute located at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, United States. Affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it serves as a dedicated organization for conducting atmospheric research and generating new scientific knowledge.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
- **Also Known As:** CIRA
- **Organization Type:** Research Institute
- **Parent Institution:** Colorado State University
- **Affiliation:** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- **Location:** Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
- **Coordinates:** 40.587306, -105.147167
- **Website:** https://www.cira.colostate.edu/
- **Twitter Handle:** @CIRA_CSU (Twitter ID: 3223413278)
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n89635165
- **VIAF ID:** 141676930
- **Freebase ID:** /m/06mp21
- **HAL Structure ID:** 64518
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/fdeee4cf-2e81-411c-9348-b501ebf30de0

## FAQs
### What is the relationship between CIRA and Colorado State University?
CIRA is a research institute that operates as part of Colorado State University. While universities typically balance teaching and research, CIRA exists specifically to conduct focused atmospheric investigation.

### Is CIRA affiliated with the US government?
Yes, the institute maintains an affiliation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce.

### Where is the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere located?
The institute is physically located in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the coordinates 40.587306 latitude and -105.147167 longitude.

### How can CIRA be identified in library and academic cataloging systems?
The institute is indexed under several authority IDs, including the Library of Congress (n89635165), VIAF (141676930), and the German National Library, which classifies it generally as a research organization distinct from scientific societies or think tanks.

## Why It Matters
As a research institute, CIRA represents a critical infrastructure component in the landscape of scientific discovery. Unlike standard academic departments that divide attention between teaching and research, this organization exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. By concentrating resources and talent specifically on atmospheric science, institutes like CIRA accelerate breakthroughs that might not fit within standard university or corporate timelines. Its affiliation with NOAA highlights its role in addressing complex societal challenges, such as weather forecasting and climate monitoring, serving as a dedicated engine for discovery that supports both academic advancement and public safety.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus:** Differentiated from university departments by its dedicated purpose to conduct research rather than teaching.
- **NOAA Partnership:** Distinguished by its direct affiliation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, linking academic research with federal scientific operations.
- **Social Media Growth:** Demonstrates a growing public reach, with Twitter followers increasing from 9,979 in early 2021 to 17,929 by early 2023.
- **Multi-System Cataloging:** Recognized globally through identifiers in Wikipedia, Library of Congress, VIAF, Freebase, and the Yale LUX system.
- **Geographic Specificity:** Precisely mapped in Fort Collins, Colorado, facilitating geographic information system (GIS) integration.

## Body

### Organizational Classification and Structure
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) is formally classified as a **research institute**, an organization type defined by having the conduct of research as its primary purpose. It is distinguished from "scientific societies" or "learned societies," which are primarily membership-based organizations, and from "think tanks," which focus on policy research. CIRA is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation.

It is a part of **Colorado State University** but operates with the specific mandate of a research institute: to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation free from the teaching obligations typical of standard university faculties.

### Affiliations and Partnerships
CIRA maintains a significant affiliation with the **National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)**. This partnership aligns the institute's atmospheric research focus with federal scientific and operational goals. The institute operates under the broader umbrella of Colorado State University, bridging academic inquiry and federal science applications.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is situated in **Fort Collins, Colorado**, within the United States. Its precise geographic location is recorded at latitude **40.587306** and longitude **-105.147167**. Visual documentation of its facilities includes imagery of the "New GOES-R Antenna at CIRA," indicating on-site technical infrastructure for atmospheric data reception.

### Digital Presence and Social Media Metrics
CIRA maintains an active digital footprint through its official website (**https://www.cira.colostate.edu/**) and social media channels.
*   **Twitter:** The institute operates the handle **@CIRA_CSU** (User ID: 3223413278), which was established in May 2015.
*   **Follower Growth:** The account has shown consistent growth:
    *   9,979 followers (as of January 2, 2021)
    *   14,007 followers (as of February 26, 2022)
    *   17,929 followers (as of February 10, 2023)

### Identification and Authority Control
CIRA is extensively indexed across major library and knowledge management systems, reflecting its standing in the global research community.
*   **Library Identifiers:** It holds the **Library of Congress Authority ID n89635165** and the **VIAF ID 141676930**.
*   **Database Entries:** The institute is recorded in Freebase (**/m/06mp21**) and the HAL open archive (**Structure ID 64518**).
*   **Academic Systems:** It is mapped to the **Yale LUX ID group/fdeee4cf-2e81-411c-9348-b501ebf30de0** and was previously tracked in Microsoft Academic (**ID 90873290**, now discontinued).
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** It has a Wikipedia presence in English and Wikimedia Commons, categorized under "Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere."

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Google Knowledge Graph
3. HAL