Atmospheric System Research Program – New Data Products | DE FOA 0001431

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD), under the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program. The opportunity is titled "Atmospheric System Research Program - New Data Products" and focuses on creating new, value-added data products using existing Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site instrument observations.

What is the main goal of the program?

The central goal is to fund research that converts existing ARM observations into proof-of-concept, value-added datasets that provide novel and improved information about geophysical variables relevant to clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and radiative transfer. The emphasis is on improving how measurements are translated into usable, model-relevant quantities rather than collecting additional measurements.

What kinds of "new data products" is DOE looking for?

The opportunity is looking for retrievals, algorithms, and/or integrated products that better characterize atmospheric states and processes using ARM site instrument observations. These products should yield improved geophysical variables that are directly relevant to atmospheric science and climate modeling, especially in areas where current uncertainties and errors are large.

Which scientific topics or variables are emphasized?

The call emphasizes geophysical variables and processes tied to clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and radiative transfer. These are described as core atmospheric processes that strongly influence Earth's energy balance and water cycle, and they are also areas where climate models often struggle.

Is this opportunity about collecting new observations at ARM sites?

No. The intent is not simply to collect more measurements. The focus is on using existing ARM observations and improving the translation of those observations into value-added, model-relevant datasets.

How does this funding opportunity connect to climate modeling?

A major emphasis is on reducing uncertainty in climate modeling by targeting quantities that currently have large errors or are poorly constrained. Competitive concepts would likely demonstrate how the proposed data product addresses known modeling weaknesses, such as biases in cloud properties, aerosol effects on radiation, precipitation process representation, or the coupling between clouds and atmospheric dynamics.

What does "proof-of-concept" mean in this announcement?

In this context, "proof-of-concept" means the work should demonstrate feasibility and value of the proposed data product. The product should show clear potential to become useful to the broader modeling and research community, with a clear pathway toward broader use.

What program is sponsoring this opportunity?

The opportunity is sponsored through the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program, within DOE Office of Science, BER, CESD.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0001431.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 81.049.

What type of award mechanism is being used?

The opportunity uses a grant mechanism and is categorized under "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant pool is listed as unrestricted. This indicates a wide range of organizations could apply, as long as they can meet federal grant requirements.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $250,000.

How many awards are expected?

The notice references expected awards, but the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting was created on 2015-10-02.

What was the application closing date?

The original closing date for applications was 2016-01-13.

What is ARM and why is it important here?

ARM refers to the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site instruments and observations. In this opportunity, ARM data are the source observations applicants are expected to use to create new, value-added data products relevant to clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and radiative transfer.

What outcomes does DOE appear to be aiming for with this call?

The call is aimed at strengthening climate science infrastructure by turning ARM instrument observations into improved, model-ready geophysical datasets. The goal is to help climate models better represent key atmospheric processes and improve the reliability of regional and global climate projections.

What kinds of modeling weaknesses does the announcement highlight as examples?

The opportunity highlights examples such as biases in cloud properties, aerosol effects on radiation, how precipitation processes are represented, and the coupling between clouds and atmospheric dynamics.

What makes a concept likely to be competitive, based on the description provided?

Based on the description, competitive concepts would likely (1) target geophysical quantities with large current uncertainties, (2) clearly connect the proposed data product to a known climate modeling weakness, and (3) demonstrate proof-of-concept feasibility and value, including a clear pathway for the product to become useful to a broader research and modeling community.