NASA Decadal Survey Planetary Boundary Layer Incubation Technical Meeting, May 12-13, 2026
Hotel Dena, Pasadena, California
The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) Technical Meeting will provide an overview and update of the Decadal Survey Incubation program goals for PBL, key science questions and associated challenges that will help shape the direction of a future PBL architecture. A goal of this meeting is to bring together PBL scientists and technologists to continue our work towards a PBL framework that includes program-of-record observations as well as future space-based measurements in combination with suborbital campaigns. The meeting will feature invited speakers from across NASA as well as other agencies, academia, private industry, including international colleagues to continue to grow the PBL community and broaden the discussion as we move towards the next Decadal Survey.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the PBL meeting must register in advance for either online or in-person attendance using the form below. If you wish to attend in person please register no later than April 16.
This meeting will be hybrid, however in-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Posters and short white paper discussions will be in-person only.
NASA participants: Do not enter this meeting into NCTS (NASA Conference Tracking System). See footnote for more detail.
The spring 2026 meeting will comprise two full days, Tuesday-Wednesday, May 12-13. A detailed agenda will be posted here in April. We anticipate including the following topics, however this preliminary session timing is subject to change:
Tuesday May 12
Morning:
- Overview of PBL
- NASA HQ remarks
- Update and questions on Decadal Survey
- Overview of White Papers
- Decadal strategy with time for questions/discussion
Afternoon:
- PBL Applications
- PBL Technologies
- Report outs from PBL field campaigns (WH2yMSIE, NURTURE)
- Plenary discussion of concepts that need to be included in preparing for Decadal response, other communities we should be reaching out to, etc.
Wednesday May 13
Morning:
- Continued discussion regarding communities to integrate, upcoming meetings we should coordinate, papers, comments/discussion about white paper update needs
Lunch and poster session (in person only)
Afternoon:
- PI updates (lightning talks)
- White paper reviews (short breakouts, in person only)
- Summary and path forward, wrap no later than 5pm
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Meeting venue and hotel guest room block
Hotel Dena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (formerly Sheraton Pasadena)
303 Cordova Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Hotel reservations – book using this link no later than April 9
- Per diem guest room rate is $191 exclusive of taxes (currently 17.2%) and is based on availability within the group room block
- For telephone reservation, call +1-626-469-8100 ext. 135 and mention the meeting name: PBL-BAER Spring Meeting-2026
- Cancellation deadline is 48 hours before arrival
- A fee of one night’s room plus tax will apply for early checkout, late cancellation, or no show; please make any changes to your departure date prior to check in to avoid a charge
- The group rate will be offered three days before and after the room block dates based on availability; call the hotel
Hotel parking
- Covered overnight self-parking at the Dena is currently $35 with in and out privileges.
- Daily self-parking is available for $15 (no in and out).
- Parking charges are subject to change without notice.
Airports and ground transportation
Option #1: Fly to Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR), 16 miles from the Hotel Dena.
Taxi and ride sharing services (Uber, Lyft) are available; prices vary. More information about ground transportation is available on the airport’s website.
Combined modes of public transportation (Amtrak train / Metro light rail, or other combinations) are inefficient but available; most require a change of trains at LA Union Station; costs vary. See this LA Metro page for more information.
Option #2: Fly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 28 miles from the Hotel Dena.
An LAX FlyAway Union Station airporter bus / Metro Gold (L) Line light rail trip with a change at LA Union Station is an efficient choice from LAX; travel time about 1 hour, or more during rush hours; cost $9.75 (bus) + $1.75 (rail). Take the Metro Gold (L) Line to Del Mar Station in Pasadena, about 4 blocks (1/2 mile) from the hotel. Find information about the entire trip here.
Taxi and ride sharing services (Uber, Lyft) are available from LAX; prices vary. Check the airport website to find pickup locations.
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NASA participants: Forecasting/tracking this meeting is not required; do not enter this meeting into NCTS (NASA Conference Tracking System) or the new SCTMS (Science Conference and Travel Management System). This is a formal operational meeting with attendance limited to active project participants including PIs, CoIs, grad students and post docs, as well as invited speakers and community members.
Contact
If you wish to subscribe to the PBL All mailing list please send an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to pbl-all-join@espo.nasa.gov
If you have questions about meeting logistics you may contact meeting-support@espo.nasa.gov