Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002034

The Atmospheric System Research (ASR) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002034) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, specifically within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program and its Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD). Its overall purpose is to support scientific research that improves understanding of atmospheric processes that directly influence Earths energy balance and the water cycle. The program is especially focused on cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiative transfer processes, with an emphasis on the kinds of physical mechanisms that currently limit how well regional and global climate models can predict weather and climate behavior.

The opportunity invites grant applications for observational studies, data analysis efforts, and modeling research, as long as they make strong use of CESD-supported observations. A central resource highlighted in the announcement is the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) scientific user facility, along with other observations supported by the ASR program. The intent is not simply to collect data, but to turn high-quality measurements into better scientific understanding and, importantly, better representation of key processes inside atmospheric models. In practice, that means proposals should connect measurements and analysis to improvements in model physics, parameterizations, or process-level understanding that can be tested and generalized.

The specific scientific topics called out include improving understanding and model representation of aerosol processes at ARM sites, warm boundary-layer processes, convective cloud processes, and cloud and aerosol processes over the Southern Ocean. These areas reflect long-standing challenges in atmospheric science: aerosols can alter cloud properties and rainfall and can be difficult to represent accurately in models; boundary-layer dynamics strongly control the formation and persistence of low clouds and influence surface energy exchanges; convective clouds and storms are critical to precipitation and extreme events but remain a major uncertainty for models; and the Southern Ocean is widely recognized as a region where cloud biases in models create large errors in simulated radiation and climate sensitivity. Proposals aligned with these themes, and that clearly leverage ARM and related DOE observational assets, are a strong fit for the program.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a grant and the activity category is science and technology research and development. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many types of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement text. The opportunity was posted on December 26, 2018, with an original closing date of March 14, 2019. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, and DOE anticipated making around 20 awards under this call. The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 81.049, which corresponds to DOE Office of Science financial assistance programs.

In simple terms, this ASR opportunity is designed for research teams who can use DOE atmospheric observations, especially ARM data, to answer process-focused questions about aerosols and clouds and then translate those insights into improved model performance. The strongest projects are typically those that tightly connect measurements, theory, and modeling, and that show a clear pathway from process understanding to more accurate predictive tools for weather and climate applications.

  • The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Atmospheric System Research (ASR)" 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 Dec 26, 2018.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2019. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for DE FOA 0002034

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Atmospheric System Research (ASR) - DE-FOA-0002034

What is the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) funding opportunity?

The Atmospheric System Research (ASR) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002034) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. It sits within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, specifically the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD). It funds scientific research aimed at improving understanding of atmospheric processes that affect Earth's energy balance and the water cycle.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program supports research that advances knowledge of key atmospheric processes, especially those that currently limit the accuracy of regional and global climate models in predicting weather and climate behavior. A major goal is translating high-quality atmospheric measurements into improved process understanding and better representation of these processes in atmospheric models.

Which scientific processes are emphasized in this opportunity?

The opportunity emphasizes cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiative transfer processes. The focus is on physical mechanisms that are challenging to represent in models and that contribute to uncertainty in weather and climate predictions.

What kinds of projects are invited to apply?

Applications are invited for observational studies, data analysis efforts, and modeling research, as long as the work makes strong use of CESD-supported observations. Projects are expected to go beyond collecting data by turning measurements into process understanding and improved model representation.

What DOE observation resources are highlighted for use in proposals?

A central resource highlighted is the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) scientific user facility, along with other observations supported by the ASR program. Proposals are expected to leverage these DOE observational assets in a meaningful and clearly connected way.

Is the opportunity focused on collecting new measurements or using existing observations?

Based on the description, the intent is not simply to collect data. The emphasis is on using high-quality measurements (including ARM and other DOE-supported observations) to build better scientific understanding and improve how key processes are represented in atmospheric models.

What does "making strong use of CESD-supported observations" mean in practice?

In practice, it means proposals should clearly connect DOE-supported measurements and analyses to improvements in model physics, parameterizations, or process-level understanding that can be tested and generalized. The strongest fit is work that links observations to outcomes that matter for modeling and prediction.

What specific scientific topics are called out in the announcement?

The announcement calls out several topic areas, including:

  • Improving understanding and model representation of aerosol processes at ARM sites
  • Warm boundary-layer processes
  • Convective cloud processes
  • Cloud and aerosol processes over the Southern Ocean

Why are aerosol processes a priority area for this program?

Aerosols can change cloud properties and rainfall, and they are difficult to represent accurately in models. The opportunity highlights improving understanding and model representation of aerosol processes, particularly using observations at ARM sites.

Why are warm boundary-layer processes included as a focus area?

Warm boundary-layer dynamics help control the formation and persistence of low clouds and influence surface energy exchanges. These processes are important to how the atmosphere interacts with the surface and can be a limiting factor in model performance.

Why does the opportunity emphasize convective cloud processes?

Convective clouds and storms play a central role in precipitation and extreme events. They are also described as a major uncertainty for models, making them an important target for process understanding and improved representation in predictive tools.

Why is the Southern Ocean highlighted?

The Southern Ocean is widely recognized as a region where climate models have cloud-related biases that can lead to large errors in simulated radiation and climate sensitivity. The opportunity explicitly calls out cloud and aerosol processes over the Southern Ocean as a scientific topic area.

How should proposals connect observations and modeling to be a strong fit?

A strong fit is described as research that tightly connects measurements, theory, and modeling, and shows a clear pathway from process understanding to improved model performance. That can include improvements to model physics, parameterizations, or other representations that can be tested and generalized.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the activity category?

The activity category is science and technology research and development.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many types of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility details that may be specified in the full announcement text.

Which DOE offices and divisions run this program?

The program is run by the DOE Office of Science, within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, and specifically within BER's Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD).

What is the opportunity number and identifier?

The opportunity is identified as Atmospheric System Research (ASR) with funding opportunity number DE-FOA-0002034.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 81.049, which corresponds to DOE Office of Science financial assistance programs.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on December 26, 2018.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date listed for this opportunity was March 14, 2019.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is listed as $750,000.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making under this call?

DOE anticipated making around 20 awards under this call.

What types of outcomes is DOE looking for from funded projects?

DOE is looking for improved scientific understanding of key atmospheric processes and improved representation of those processes in atmospheric models. The stated intent includes a clear connection from measurements and analysis to better model physics, parameterizations, and process-level understanding that improves predictive capability.

What is the program trying to improve in weather and climate modeling?

The program targets physical mechanisms that limit how well regional and global climate models can predict weather and climate behavior, with emphasis on clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and radiative transfer that affect Earth's energy balance and the water cycle.

Who is this opportunity best suited for?

This opportunity is designed for research teams that can use DOE atmospheric observations (especially ARM data) to answer process-focused questions about aerosols and clouds and translate those insights into improved model performance for weather and climate applications.

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