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

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001431

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) in the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD), announced a discretionary grant opportunity under its Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program focused on creating "new data products" from Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site instruments. The central goal is to fund research that can turn 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. These are the core atmospheric processes that strongly influence Earths energy balance and water cycle, and they are also areas where climate models often struggle. The intent is not simply to collect more measurements, but to improve how measurements are translated into usable, model-relevant quantities.

A major emphasis of the opportunity is on reducing uncertainty in climate modeling by targeting geophysical quantities that currently have large errors or are poorly constrained. In practical terms, the DOE is looking for applicants to develop retrievals, algorithms, or integrated products that better characterize atmospheric states and processes that feed directly into regional and global climate models. The most competitive concepts would likely show how a proposed data product addresses a known modeling weakness, such as biases in cloud properties, aerosol effects on radiation, precipitation process representation, or the coupling between clouds and atmospheric dynamics. The opportunity frames these products as proof-of-concept, meaning the work should demonstrate feasibility and value, with a clear pathway for the product to become a useful tool for the broader modeling and research community.

Administratively, this funding opportunity is identified as "Atmospheric System Research Program - New Data Products" with Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0001431 and CFDA number 81.049. It is a grant mechanism in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, and the eligible applicant pool is listed as unrestricted, indicating that a wide range of organizations could apply if they can meet federal grant requirements. The posting was created on 2015-10-02, and the original closing date for applications was 2016-01-13. The listed award ceiling is $250,000. The notice also references expected awards, but the number is not specified in the provided source text.

In summary, this ASR call is aimed at strengthening climate science infrastructure by turning ARM instrument observations into improved, model-ready geophysical datasets, especially for variables that are currently uncertain or responsible for major limitations in climate predictability. The focus is on scientific and technical innovation in data product development that can ultimately help climate models better represent key atmospheric processes and thereby improve the reliability of regional and global projections.

• The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Atmospheric System Research Program – New Data Products" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-10-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-01-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for DE FOA 0001431

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