[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