[Program Guideline] For US WOCE Activities: 1998-2002 Analysis, Interpretation, Modeling and Synthesis (AIMS) (NSF 97-88)
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Title : For US WOCE Activities: 1998-2002 Analysis, Interpretation, Modeling
and Synthesis (AIMS) (NSF 97-88)
Type : Program Guideline
NSF Org: GEO
Date : April 24, 1997
File : nsf9788
For US WOCE
Activities: 1998-2002
Analysis, Interpretation, Modeling and Synthesis (AIMS)
______________________________________________________________________________
Program Announcement
DIRECTORATE FOR GEOSCIENCES
TARGET DATES: August 15 and February 15, 1997 - 2000
World Ocean Circulation Experiment
National Science Foundation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Background
The goals of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) are to understand
the general circulation of the ocean well enough to be able to model its
present state and to predict its evolution in relation to long-term climate
changes. To be effective, global climate models require such an oceanographic
component. WOCE is a key element of the U.S. Global Change Research Program
and the World Climate Research Programme. Planning for WOCE began in the early
1980s, and preliminary funding began, in the U.S., in 1986. The global field
program began in 1990, and concludes in 1998. The international activities are
documented in the WOCE Implementation Plan: Volumes I: (Detailed Requirements)
and II: (Scientific Background). These can be identified as documents WCRP-11,
WMO/TD 242, and WCRP-12, WMO/TD 243, respectively.
Since 1987, the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Department of Energy (DOE)
have supported U.S. participation in WOCE. The agencies wish to encourage a
wide variety of modeling and analysis projects in order to realize the maximum
return on their investment in WOCE. The NSF Division of Ocean Sciences and the
NASA Office of Mission to Planet Earth will collaborate with other government
agencies, as appropriate, to consider proposals from U.S. scientists under
this announcement.
Projects supported since the inception of the program include: the collection
of global oceanic observations; global applications of existing models;
theoretical studies relating to large-scale ocean circulation and the role of
the ocean in climate; process and sensitivity studies that address basic
scientific questions; and studies that address particular aspects of the WOCE
observational data base. The term, "WOCE observational data" may be
interpreted to include NASA satellite data from TOPEX/POSEIDON, and NSCAT, as
well as sea surface temperature from the NASA/NOAA Pathfinder Project.
Projects involving the assimilation of WOCE data into appropriate ocean or
coupled ocean-atmosphere models are also encouraged.
Many elements of the internationally coordinated Implementation Plan have been
identified as U.S. contri-butions. U.S. WOCE activities are coordinated by a
Science Steering Committee (SSC) and by several implementation panels.
Potential research areas and field programs in WOCE are prioritized by the SSC
in a manner consistent with the scientific objectives, implementation plans,
and current budget levels. This announcement addresses U.S. participation in
the final phase of the international effort, specifically to: A. Assemble,
quality-control, and integrate all data sets collected during WOCE with each
other and with other data sets relevant to understanding the ocean circulation
and its relation to climate, and, B. Assemble an archive of the overall
results of WOCE - a description of the global ocean during the WOCE time frame
- while ensuring easy access for researchers to the data contained therein. It
is intended that this announcement shall stand throughout the Synthesis Phase
of WOCE, (1998 to at least 2002), and it provides the necessary update to the
Program Announcement for WOCE Modeling and 1994 Field Activities (released 1
July 1992), and supersedes Part II of NSF 95-85 (released 5 May 1995).
Further background and guidance for U.S. scientists interested in
participating in the WOCE synthesis effort can be found in U.S. Planning
Report Number 16, "U.S. WOCE Synthesis Plan", as well as the U.S. SSC position
paper on modeling proposals (issued in March, 1993). Both are available from
the U.S. WOCE Office. Further information is available on the World Wide Web:
http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/WOCE/uswoce.html.
Analysis, Interpretation, Modeling, and Synthesis (AIMS)
The WOCE data set provides the most comprehensive series of measurements of
the global ocean yet made. Details on the data sets, their location and
availability are provided through the WOCE Data Information Unit (DIU) at the
University of Delaware, Web site: http://www.cms.udel.edu, or e-mail:
woce...@diu.cms.udel.edu. Access to satellite data is through the JPL
Physical Oceanography Data Active Archive Center (JPL PODAAC), Web site:
http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov; email: pod...@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov. Most, if not
all, of the other data sets may also be accessed through the internet. Their
use is encouraged by WOCE.
As indicated above, the principal goal of WOCE is to understand the ocean
circulation and its relation to climate. Part of this goal includes the
interpretation and synthesis of WOCE results. It is also expected that the
understanding obtained from the WOCE field program will be used to identify
key ocean measurements that will be needed as indices of global change, and to
design long-term observing systems to monitor, understand, and predict those
changes.
Studies to be supported under this announcement may include the analysis and
interpretation of WOCE data (with or without other contemporary data sets),
the assimilation of WOCE data into ocean or coupled ocean/atmosphere models,
comparison of the data with model products, continuation of WOCE modeling and
data assimilation activities, and production of data compilations,
climatologies and atlases. It is understood that the basic analysis and
interpretation of individual data sets and model results will continue, and it
is also expected that these will be completed, and the data made public and
generally available to the community within two years of the measurements.
Beyond that, it is important to continue the task of combining results on a
basin- (e.g., North Pacific, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic, etc.) or
global-scale, with the latter in particular to be encouraged. These activities
may be enhanced by the wider availability of data products derived from WOCE
and WOCE-related programs. Projects involving the production and distribution
of these data products (as envisioned in the concept of WOCE special analysis
centers) are needed to support a wider range of modeling and analysis efforts.
Comparison of these results with those of other large programs carried out
contemporaneously or in previous years may also be considered.
Proposals will be considered that are directed to the synthetical activities
covered in Streams I and II, as documented below. Proposals should directly
address WOCE goals. To be most responsive to this announcement, proposals
should:
1. Complete the basic analyses and interpretation of individual WOCE data sets
on regional to basin scales,
OR
2. Use WOCE data and/or ocean circulation models in analysis, interpretation
and model improvement on basin to global scales.
Stream I - Synthetical activities
a. Core activities
The aim of this stream is to ensure integration of the individual efforts
taken throughout the different basins to produce a global result. Topics
covered under this heading might include, AMONG OTHERS, the interpretation of
tracer distributions within an ocean basin, the assembly of current meter
records and hydrographic data to provide estimates of intermediate or abyssal
flow fields, establishing the mean surface or intermediate depth flow fields
and their variances from drifter or float data, estimating diapycnal mixing
from a combination of hydrographic data, current meter arrays and tracer
fields, establishing the variability of upper ocean heat content from VOS
data, and the like. Further, no matter how the data are "mapped" or
"analyzed", efforts to estimate the errors present in WOCE data are sought.
Although there are many different types of error, an important approach might
be studies of the statistical variability of the data themselves, as well as
analyses of specific errors and uncertainties inherent in the data sets. Also,
it is especially important to estimate the spatial and temporal coherence of
errors. The use of contemporaneous and historical data, where appropriate to
provide greater data density and comparisons, is also encouraged.
b. Special activities
It is recognized that certain activities, such as the compilation of atlases
and gridded climatologies relating to the WOCE data set, are likely to be of
great use to the whole oceanographic community. Although their preparation is
not normally considered research, because the WOCE data set will be of most
use in its entirety, it is considered important to provide funding for these
activities. Additionally, to put the WOCE data set in context, historical data
bases for each type of data could be assembled in a common format and
subjected to the same quality control standards as the WOCE data set. A
further activity might be the development of tools that would allow
investigators to create climatologies of various parameters on different grids
for use in models.
c. Model-data combinations
One of the main aims of WOCE is to provide a data set that may be used to
validate and improve models by comparing model and data products. Conversely,
such a comparison can assist with extending the descriptions and understanding
of processes occurring in the ocean. Proposals will be accepted that intend
using WOCE, NASA satellite (e.g., TOPEX/POSEIDON, NSCAT), and other data sets
for these purposes.
It is recognized that model results may be improved in many cases by
incorporating data into the analysis. This is often not an easy task, and
further development of the ability to assimilate different data types into
models is required. Proposals will be accepted that concentrate on this aspect
of model development. Anticipated products of Stream I work include: published
papers, data reports, atlases, climatologies, and CD-ROMs of individual and
combined data sets on basin and/or global scales. It is anticipated that such
analyses could be conducted by individual PIs, by groups of PIs, or through
workshops. Proposals for all these possibilities will be considered.
Stream II - Model development and testing
Many of the individual and group efforts covered under Stream I will employ
models. Model development has been considered an important part of WOCE for
many years (see e.g., the U.S. SSC position paper on modeling originally
issued in March 1993 and available from the U.S. WOCE Office). Stream II
addresses the continued need for model development during the Synthesis Phase,
particularly on global scales. Previous efforts have included global
applications of existing models, theoretical studies relating to large-scale
ocean circulation and the role of the ocean in climate, process and
sensitivity studies that address basic scientific questions, and studies of
particular aspects of the WOCE observational data base. These studies will be
continued.
The WOCE community also wishes to encourage continued efforts to improve
models by, for instance, adopting alternative dynamical equations, improving
the parameterization of sub-grid-scale effects, investigating novel vertical
and horizontal gridding schemes, and the use of more efficient computational
algorithms. Proposals on all these topics will be considered.
To date, much of the modeling development has taken place through individual
PI efforts. NSF encourages the continuation of these efforts, but mindful of
the complex nature of ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) and coupled
models, also wishes to encourage groups of PIs to combine their energies and
cooperate on model developments as described above.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The first target date for submissions in response to this announcement is 15
August 1997. Future target dates will be 15 February and 15 August, in
coordination with the target dates for submission to the Ocean Sciences
Research Programs. It is expected that proposals will be accepted every six
months through at least the year 2000, as the analysis unfolds, and as results
prompt new and different approaches. Most awards resulting from this
announcement are expected to range from approximately $50,000 up to $200,000
annually, and be of 2 - 5 years duration. The annual amount available from all
sources for this competition is expected to be approximately $2-12 million,
pending the availability of funds.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION
Proposals submitted in response to this Program Announcement will be accepted
from colleges, universities, other not-for-profit institutions in the United
States, as well as U.S. Federal labs. Awards to Federal labs will be made by
NASA and some additional information may be required before such awards can be
made. Proposals should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the
guidelines provided in the NSF publication, Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) NSF
95-27 or subsequent versions. Single copies of this publication are available
at no cost from:
Forms and Publications Unit
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd. -- ROOM P-15
Arlington, VA 22230
TEL: (703) 306-1130
e-mail: pu...@nsf.gov
Proposals will be subjected to initial screening for conformance with GPG
requirements, including adherence to the 15 page limit for project
descriptions, and will be returned without review or advance notification if
deficiencies are found. Proposals will NOT be forwarded to other Programs if
found to be inappropriate for this competition. The original and twenty copies
of each Proposal submitted in response to this program announcement should be
sent to:
NSF Proposal Processing Unit
4201 Wilson Blvd., Room P-60
Arlington VA, 22230
and be identified by entering "WOCE - AIMS" in the Program announcement block
on the cover page. Proposers are required to provide the U.S. WOCE Office with
an informational copy of the proposal which the SSC will review for relevance
and priority with respect to U.S. WOCE goals. Each proposal must include a
plan for documentation, archiving, and dissemination of data and project
results. All funded participants must adhere to data management policies
applying to recipients of federal funding in the geosciences. Additionally,
participants must adhere to data submission schedules and data management
requirements established by WOCE. For details on the latter, please consult
the U.S. WOCE homepage on the World-Wide Web.
Questions regarding the U.S. WOCE program should be addressed to:
Dr. Piers Chapman, Director
U.S. WOCE Office
Department of Oceanography
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, 77843-3146
TEL: (409) 845-1443
e-mail: usw...@ocean.tamu.edu
Questions regarding proposal preparation or submission may be directed to
Dr. Richard Lambert
Physical Oceanography Program, Room 725
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230
TEL: (703) 306-1583
e-mail: rlam...@nsf.gov
or to
Dr. Eric Lindstrom
Physical Oceanography Program
NASA Headquarters, Code YS
300 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546
TEL: (202) 358-4540
e-mail: elind...@hq.nasa.gov
PROPOSAL REVIEW AND GRANTS ADMINISTRATION
Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the general criteria outlined in
the NSF Grant Proposal Guide and in accordance with procedures for external
merit review established by NSF and NASA. The National Science Foundation is
in the process of revising the merit review criteria. For the August 1997
competition, the four criteria found on page 13 of the current GPG (NSF 97-27)
will be used in evaluating the proposals. The revised criteria will be used in
future competitions and will be included in the next version of the Grant
Proposal Guide. Please make sure that you have the most recent version of the
Grant Proposal Guide when submitting proposals for 1998 and beyond. Proposal
responsiveness to the goals of WOCE AIMS and the degree of complementarity
with other projects will also be considered.
NASA will directly award grants as a result of the proposal review and
selection process outlined in this announcement. NASA grant or cooperative
agreement awards made as a result of this notice will be administered in
accordance with the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook (NHB
5800.1).
NSF grants awarded as a result of this announcement are administered in
accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1, "Grant General
Conditions,: or FDP-III, "Federal Demonstration Partnership General Terms and
Conditions," depending on the grantee organization. Copies of these NSF
publications are available at no cost from the NSF Forms and Publications
Unit. More comprehensive information is contained in the NSF Grant Policy
Manual (NSF 95-26, October 1995), for sale through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The telephone
number at GPO is (202) 783-3238 for subscription information.
NSF and NASA provide awards for research in the sciences and engineering. The
awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such research and preparation
of the results for publication. The NSF and NASA do not assume responsibility
for such findings or their interpretation. In accordance with Federal statutes
and regulations and NSF and NASA policies, no person on grounds of race,
color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from
participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any program activity receiving financial assistance from NSF or NASA.
The NSF and NASA welcome proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists and
engineers, and strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with
disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and research-related
Programs described in this document.
NSF is equipped with TDD (Telephonic Device for the Deaf) which enables the
hearing impaired to request information on NSF programs, employment, or other
matters. The number is (703) 306-0090; for FIRS, 1-800-877-8339. Facilitation
Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provides funding
for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities
(investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work
on an NSF project. See Program Announcement NSF 91-54 or contact the program
coordinator (703)306-1636.
PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The information requested on the proposal forms is solicited under the
authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will
be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals and may be
disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the review
process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data
regarding the application review process, award decisions, or the
administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and
researchers as necessary to complete assigned work; and to other government
agencies in order to coordinate programs. See systems of Records, NSF-50,
"Principal Investigator/Proposal file and Associate Records," 60 Federal
Register 4449 (January 23, 1995), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 59 Federal Register 8031 (February 17, 1994). Submission
of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete
information, however, may reduce the possibility of your receiving an award.
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to
average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Herman G. Fleming
Reports Clearance Officer
Contracts, Policy and Oversight
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
category 47.050
OMB 3145-0058
PT 34
KW 1008004,0103001
NSF 97-88
(Replaces NSF 95-85, Part II)
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End of nsf9788.txt
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