[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5737]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 11, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Research
Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 94-15:
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) of the
Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby
announces its interest in receiving applications to support the
experimental and theoretical study of radiation and clouds in
conjunction with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program as
part of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). This notice
requests applications for grants to support:
(Category 1): Renewal or supplementing of activities previously
funded by DOE Program Notice 91-9 dated March 8, 1991 (with grants
awarded in the fall of 1991).
(Category 2): The modeling and analysis of data relating to the
parameterization of clouds and radiation in General Circulation Models
(GCMs) and related models. These activities should be closely tied to
the use of data from the current and planned facilities of the Cloud
and Radiation Testbed centered near Lamont, Oklahoma and further
deployments in the Tropical Western Pacific and on the North Slope of
Alaska.
(Category 3): The development of new analytic methods and derived
data products by combining ARM data and other data such as satellite
data; these new methods or products must support the experimental
efforts of ARM Science Team members.
(Category 4): The development of advanced instrumentation for high
accuracy/precision radiometric observations and for profiling of all
three phases of water in the atmosphere and lower stratosphere.
(Category 5): The use of ARM data to support activities in other
programs with goals related to those of ARM through unfunded
participation in the ARM Science Team.
DATES: Formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be
received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., April 26, 1994, to permit timely
consideration for award in Fiscal Year 1995
.ADDRESSES: Formal applications referencing Program Notice 94-15 should
be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research,
Acquisition and Assistance Management Division, ER-64, Washington, DC
20585, ATTN: Program Notice 94-15. The following address must be used
when submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, any
commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried by the
applicant: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research,
Acquisition and Assistance Management Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown
Road, Germantown, MD 20874.
FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter W. Lunn,
Environmental Sciences Division, Office of Health and Environmental
Research, ER-74 (GTN), Washington, DC 20585, telephone (301) 903-4819.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the major scientific objectives of
the Environmental Sciences Division is to improve the performance of
predictive models of the Earth's climate and to thereby make
predictions of the response of the climate system to increasing
concentrations of greenhouse gases. The purpose of the ARM Program is
to improve the treatment of radiation and clouds in the models used to
predict future climate, particularly the General Circulation Models
(GCMs). This program is one element of a major effort to improve the
quality of current models and to support the development of sets of
climate models capable of making regional prediction of climate and
climate change. The major component of the ARM Program is an
experimental testbed for the study of models of the terrestrial
radiation field, properties of clouds, the full life cycle of clouds,
and the incorporation of these process-level models into climate
models. This testbed is referred to as the Cloud and Radiation Testbed
(CART). The first ARM CART site began operation in calendar year 1992,
with instruments spread over an area of approximately 60,000 sq. km.,
centered on Lamont, Oklahoma. Sites are planned for the Tropical
Western Pacific Ocean and the North Slope of Alaska which are expected
to begin operation during the next four years. Each site is intended to
be in operation for approximately 10 years.
To ensure that the program meets the broadest needs of the research
community and the specific needs of the DOE Environmental Sciences
Division (ESD), successful applicants will participate as ARM Science
Team members along with selected scientists from other ESD programs
that relate to the ARM Program. Costs for participation in ARM Science
Team meetings and subcommittee meetings should be based on two trips of
1 week each to Washington, DC, and two (2) trips of 3 days each to
Chicago, IL.
Successful applicants for renewing or supplementing grants placed
under Program Notice 91-9, Category 1, will demonstrate (a) continued
relevance of their work to the goals of the ARM Program; (b) the
quality and relevance of work conducted under previous support to the
goals of the ARM Program, including a listing of publications and
presentations; and (c) relevant contribution to the development of the
ARM program, particularly the design and development of CART
facilities, as a result of previous funding. Applications should
include a special section entitled ``Accomplishments Under Previous
Support'' which addresses items (b) and (c) directly above.
Successful applicants for grants in support of Category 2 will
participate in the modeling and scientific portion of the ARM Program.
These applicants must demonstrate the role of their research in the
improvement of General Circulation Models and/or related models and
delineate the path that their results will take to make those
improvements. It is anticipated that successful applicants will be
involved in one or more of three activities: (a) The development of
models and parameterization of radiative transfer or cloud processes or
the testing of these models in GCMs or process-level models; (b)
experimental studies at CART facilities to test elements of models and
their performance or to obtain key laboratory data; or (c) the analysis
of existing data, including field data and satellite data, to support
model development or testing.
Successful applicants for participation in Category 3, the
development of new analytic methods and derived data products, must
demonstrate how the proposed efforts support the ARM Science Team
members involved in the other categories of research. Participation in
category 3 is not a stand alone activity. Successful applicants must
either be current participants in the ARM Program or be a successful
applicant through this solicitation for participation in one of the
other four categories.
Successful applicants for participation in the ARM advanced
instrument development program, Category 4, will either: (a) Develop
instruments to meet the long-term need of the ARM Program for
deployment of improved radiometric sensors, both broad-band and
spectrally-resolved. Of particular interest are instruments capable of
high-precision radiometric calibration. Each application should contain
in appropriate detail a discussion of the accuracy and precision of the
proposed measurement methodology as a function of wavelength and the
relevance of the resulting measurements to testing models of
atmospheric radiative processes; or (b) Develop instruments to meet the
long-term need of the ARM Program for the deployment of improved
systems for the measurement of the spatial distribution of all three
phases of water, with particular emphasis on vertical profiles. Each
application should contain in appropriate detail a discussion of the
accuracy and precision of the proposed measurement methodology as a
function of altitude and the relevance of the resulting measurements to
testing models of atmospheric radiative processes.
Successful applicants for participation in the adjunct ARM Science
Team, Category 5, will apply ARM data to research programs of interest
to DOE and related to ARM goals, but which are funded by other sources.
While ARM data is available through the ARM Data Archive at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, ARM Science Team participation provides
investigators the opportunity to receive tailored data products from
the ARM Experiment Center at Pacific Northwest Laboratory and the
opportunity to participate in the design of ARM facilities and
experiments. While there will not be funds to support the research of
applicants under this portion of this notice, some funds may be
available to support the travel of successful applicants to participate
in ARM Science Team activities as indicated below. The current number
of participants in this aspect of the program is four. The number of
participants which will be selected under this portion of this notice
may be limited to no more than 6 teams. Preference will be given to
participants whose goals are related to the general goals of ARM
outlined above; Global Energy and Water Experiment (GEWEX) and its
associated programs; the study of aerosols and their effect on the
radiative transfer, including visibility studies; and the transfer of
UV-B radiation through the atmosphere.
The efforts proposed in support of all five categories should have
as a focus the conduct of research using the CART facilities either in
operation or being developed for ARM. Successful applicants will
participate in the continuing development of the detailed experimental
approaches for CART and guide the evolving development and acquisition
of the experimental equipment.
It is anticipated that approximately $2,000,000 will be available
for awards for the combined activity under Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4
above in FY 1995, contingent upon availability of appropriate funds.
Multiple year funding of awards is expected, also contingent upon
availability of funds. The allocation of funds among the four
categories above will depend on the number and quality of the
applications received. It is anticipated that a substantial fraction of
the funds will support renewals of existing research under Category 1
above. Typical ESD awards are $200,000 per year, but range from $50,000
to $600,000. Collaborative applications are encouraged. Awards are
anticipated to begin on or about November 1, 1994.
The technical portion of the application should not exceed twenty-
five (25) doubled-spaced pages. For applicants under Category 1 above,
the ``Accomplishments Under Previous Support'' section should not
exceed ten (10) additional double-spaced pages. An abstract of less
than 200 words must be included with the application. Lengthy
appendices are discouraged.
Technical information on the ARM Program is available from the ARM
Program Office at Pacific Northwest Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland,
WA 99352 (telephone (509) 375-6964) or from the Office of Scientific
and Technical Information, P.O. Box 62, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (telephone
(615) 576-8401).
Information about development and submission of applications,
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other
policies and procedures, may be found in the Application Guide for the
Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program and 10 CFR part
605. The Application and Guide is available from the U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Health and Environmental Research, Office of Energy
Research, ER-74, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone requests may be made
by calling (301) 903-4208.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this
program is 81.049.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 28, 1994.
Dale C. Stubenrauch,
Acting Director, Office of Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 94-5737 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P