[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77755-77758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31931]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 03-09; 
Environmental


Meteorology Component of the Atmospheric Science Program (ASP), 
With focus on Vertical Transport and Mixing

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) of 
the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby 
announces its interest in receiving applications for the Environmental 
Meteorology Component of the Atmospheric Science Program (ASP), for the 
Vertical Transport and Mixing (VTMX) Science Team. The research program 
supports the Department's Climate Change Research Program, the U.S. 
Global Change Research Program, and the Administration's goals to 
understand the meteorological processes associated with air quality and 
climate change.

DATES: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a brief 
preapplication for programmatic review. The deadline for submission of 
preapplications isApril 28, 2003. Early submission of preapplications 
is encouraged.
    Formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be 
received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., June 3, 2003, to be accepted for merit 
review and to permit timely consideration for award in Fiscal Year 
2004. The applicants are also asked to submit an electronic copy of the 
abstract in ASCII format by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., June 3, 2003, to: 
[email protected]. The abstract should include the following 
information: PI and co-PIs, their institutions, and a brief summary of 
research.
    Applicants are urged to review abstracts of proposals from DOE 
Laboratory scientists that have been tentatively selected for funding. 
Those selected proposals will be located at: http://www.science.doe.gov/ober/GC/atsi.html by March 26, 2003. Additionally, 
The VTMX Science Plan can be viewed at: http://www.pnl.gov/VTMX. 
Applications that are collaborative with or complementary to DOE 
Laboratory proposals are strongly encouraged.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice 03-09 may be sent 
to the program contact, Rickey Petty, via electronic mail 
at:[email protected] or by U.S. Postal Service Mail at Climate 
Change Research Division, Office of Biological and Environmental 
Research, Office of Science, SC-74/Germantown Building, U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290. 
Electronic mail is recommended to speed up response to preapplications.
    Formal applications in response to this solicitation are to be 
electronically submitted by an authorized institutional business 
official through DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) 
at: http://e-center.doe.gov/. IIPS provides for the posting of 
solicitations and receipt of applications in a paperless environment 
via the Internet. In order to submit applications through IIPS your 
business official will need to register at the IIPS Web site. The 
Office of Science will include attachments as part of this notice that 
provide the appropriate forms in PDF fillable format that are to be 
submitted through IIPS. Color images should be submitted in IIPS as a 
separate file in PDF format and identified as such. These images should 
be kept to a minimum due to the limitations of reproducing them. They 
should be numbered and referred to in the body of the technical 
scientific application as Color image 1, Color image 2, etc. Questions 
regarding the operation of IIPS may be E-mailed to the IIPS Help Desk 
at: center.doe.gov">HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or you may call the help desk at: (800) 
683-0751. Further information on the use of IIPS by the Office of 
Science is available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.
    If you are unable to submit an application through IIPS please 
contact the Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Science at: (301) 
903-5212 in order to gain assistance for submission through IIPS or to 
receive special approval and instructions on how to submit printed 
applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rickey Petty, Climate Change Research 
Division, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Office of 
Science, SC-74/Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290, telephone: (301) 
903-5548, E-mail: [email protected], fax: (301) 903-8519. The 
full text of Program Notice 03-09 is available via the Internet using 
the following Web site address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scope of the research to be supported 
under this notice is the investigation of atmospheric vertical 
transport and mixing processes. The geographic focus for this research 
will be on urban areas affected by nearby elevated terrain, with an 
emphasis on studies of stably stratified conditions, periods with weak 
or intermittent turbulence, and morning and evening transition periods.

Background

    The measurement and modeling of vertical transport and mixing 
processes in the lower atmosphere are of fundamental importance to 
modeling air quality, climate and weather. The upward and downward 
movements of air parcels in stable and residual layers of the 
atmosphere and the interactions between adjacent layers are 
particularly difficult processes to measure and characterize, and 
significant difficulties also exist in describing the behavior of the 
atmosphere during morning and evening transition periods. Limited 
understanding of the effects of heterogeneous land surfaces and complex 
terrain further limits our

[[Page 77756]]

ability to understand and simulate vertical transport and mixing 
processes.
    To address these issues a VTMX science team carried out field 
campaign in the Salt Lake City region in October 2000. These 
observations provide a data base for use in modeling and analytical 
studies, including mesoscale modeling, large eddy simulations (LES), 
direct numerical simulations (DNS), and conceptual modeling. Additional 
information on VTMX activities up to the present time may be found at: 
http://www.pnl.gov/VTMX/.
    Although advances have been and continue to be made in 
understanding and modeling vertical transport and mixing, the basic 
VTMX goals remain the same: to increase understanding of the mechanisms 
responsible for vertical transport and mixing; to improve our ability 
to measure and quantify the processes that account for VTMX; and to 
capture the improved understanding in vertical transport and mixing 
models.
    Our particularly interest in realizing these objectives is to 
improve the ability to accurately simulate and predict the effects of 
energy-related emissions on air quality in urban regions affected by 
adjacent elevated terrain (e.g., urban basins or valleys). The emphasis 
in this program area of the Atmospheric Science Program is on vertical 
transport and mixing processes in stably stratified conditions, in 
conditions of weak or intermittent turbulence, and during morning and 
evening transition periods.
    A significant component of this program revolves around 
observations and data analyses from cooperative field measurement 
campaigns in urban basins or valleys. Depending on the availability of 
funds, the next major field experiment will most likely occur during 
the fall of 2004, with the Salt Lake City region again being the most 
likely study area.
    Horizontal scales of interest are on the order of two hundred 
kilometers or less. Vertical scales will depend on the height of the 
daytime mixed layer and the elevation of any nearby terrain and will 
generally be on the order of a few kilometers or less. It is realized, 
of course, that processes involving larger scales may have to be taken 
into account for a full understanding of smaller-scale ones.

Categories

    Applications are solicited in one or more of three principal 
categories: (1) Analysis of Existing Data Sets; (2) Field Experiments; 
and (3) Improvement of VTMX Models and Modeling Approaches. Prospective 
investigators should explicitly specify what category or categories are 
addressed by their proposed research. Individuals or groups intending 
to participate in field experiments should describe what measurements 
they intend to make and what instruments will be used to make them. 
Those intending to analyze data from one or more instruments or who 
will use data in numerical or conceptual modeling should specify what 
data are required for their purposes.

Category 1. Analysis of Existing Data Sets

    In addition to the data available from the October 2000 Salt Lake 
City VTMX field experiment, there are a large number of data sets 
collected in other field campaigns that may be useful in the study of 
vertical transport and mixing processes. Analyses or other use of these 
data may directly contribute to the realization of the program's goals, 
and they may also help to identify processes to be studied in future 
field experiments and in the design of those experiments. Such analyses 
are particularly useful if comparisons or contrasts with findings from 
the next VTMX field experiments can then be made.

Category 2. Field Experiments

    One or more experiments designed explicitly to investigate selected 
vertical transport or exchange mechanisms will be conducted during the 
course of the new funding cycle for this program. Measurements will 
include observations of surface meteorological conditions; vertical 
profiles of wind velocity, temperature, and humidity; turbulence; 
surface energy balance, and other quantities that may be relevant to 
the study of vertical transport or exchange. Measurements and 
subsequent analysis of the data, in one or more of these areas is 
encouraged. Novel approaches for obtaining and interpreting remote 
sensing data, combining results from a variety of instrument platforms, 
and relating these data to quantities that can be calculated using 
numerical models are also areas of research that are encouraged.
    Instrument development is not anticipated to be an area of research 
supported by this program. To the extent that the novel use of an 
instrument might provide crucial measurements for field experiments, or 
that such experiments might provide an opportunity to apply new 
instrument technologies developed under other programs, however, 
support for such activities will be considered.

Category 3. Improvement of VTMX Models and Modeling Approaches

    Parameterizations of vertical transport or exchange are often based 
on assumptions about turbulence that are not applicable in all 
circumstances or on results of simulations that have been ``tuned'' to 
match a particular data set. In many cases the choice of parameter 
values is left to the individual investigator. Numerical models are 
particularly prone to failure as the atmosphere becomes more stable and 
in areas where topographic and thermal forcing are significant. New 
conceptual or numerical approaches may then be required to effect 
significant improvements in model performance. There is a need not only 
for further developments in numerical and conceptual modeling but also 
for more systematic testing and evaluation of the parameterizations and 
assumptions in these models. Whenever possible, such testing should be 
based on field data and not simply on model vs. model comparisons.

Science Issues

    Relevant science issues that are of interest for this solicitation 
include:
    [sbull] Identification of the fundamental processes that control 
vertical transport for stable and transition boundary layers.
    [sbull] Measurements to identify and quantify these processes.
    [sbull] Simulation and prediction of momentum, heat, and moisture 
surface fluxes in a stratified atmosphere with multiple layers.
    [sbull] Improving numerical simulations and forecasts of vertical 
transport and mixing during stable and transition periods.
    [sbull] Develop formulations for describing vertical diffusion in 
stable air.
    [sbull] Improving understanding of how pollutants move through 
residual layers above stable or convective boundary layers.
    [sbull] Quantifying the sensitivity of current local dispersion 
model predictions to variations in the treatment of vertical 
diffusivity and turbulence, and identify what limits our ability to 
forecast vertical transport in current numerical models.
    [sbull] Quantify the effects of the thermal and roughness 
properties of urban areas on the vertical structure of the boundary 
layer.
    [sbull] Determine the nature of (and where possible, quantify) the 
interaction of synoptic or terrain-induced flows with cold air pools in 
basins, and assess how such flows affect the formation and erosion of 
those pools and the dispersion of pollutants in them.

[[Page 77757]]

    [sbull] Improve estimates of surface flux energy budgets.

Programmatic Issues

    Collaboration among funded investigators is strongly encouraged for 
VTMX. Scientists from non-DOE laboratories and universities are 
encouraged to explore potential areas of collaboration with scientists 
from one or more of the DOE laboratories by reviewing the abstracts of 
proposals from the DOE laboratory scientists that have been identified 
as eligible for funding. The abstracts will be posted at: http://www.science.doe.gov/aber/GC/atsi.html approximately March 26, 2003, two 
months after the closing date of the Lab announcement. It is for this 
reason that the submission dates for DOE and non-DOE scientists are 
staggered. Alternatively, non-DOE participants may identify gaps in the 
research that are not covered by DOE laboratory approved proposals. 
Note that while independent investigations are anticipated in this 
program, it is important to keep the programmatic scope (vertical 
transport and mixing), geographic focus (urban basins or valleys), and 
areas of emphasis (stable conditions, conditions of weak or 
intermittent turbulence, and morning and evening transition periods) in 
mind when proposing and pursuing a course of investigation. Many of the 
principal research activities of this program will be associated with 
one or more cooperative major field measurement campaigns conducted by 
the VTMX community and with the subsequent analysis of the data 
collected in them. In addition, efforts will be made to encourage 
scientists funded by other agencies to participate in field experiments 
and to share data and results with researchers in this program. An 
annual meeting of program participants and other interested parties is 
anticipated, and investigators funded under VTMX should plan to attend.
    Additionally, favorable consideration will be provided to those 
preapplications that show synergism with other research components of 
the Atmospheric Science Program, i.e., Atmospheric Chemistry and 
Tropospheric Aerosols.

Educational Opportunities

    Opportunities exist for the financial support of undergraduate and 
graduate students wishing to participate in this program through the 
Department of Energy's Global Change Education Program. Information can 
be obtained at: http://www.atmos.anl.gov/GCEP/ on the Internet.

Collaboration

    Proposers are strongly encouraged to collaborate with researchers 
in other institutions, where appropriate, and to include cost sharing 
wherever feasible. Additional information on collaboration is available 
in the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program that is available via the World Wide Web at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/Colab.html.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that approximately $1 million in first-year 
funding will be available for multiple awards to be made early in 
Fiscal Year 2004 in the categories described above, contingent upon 
availability of appropriated funds. Applicants may request project 
support up to four years, with out-year support contingent on 
availability of appropriated funds, progress of the research, and 
programmatic needs. The number of awards and range of funding will 
depend on the number of applications received and selected for award. 
Annual budgets are expected to range from $60,000 to $200,000 in total 
costs.

Preapplications

    Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a brief 
preapplication that consists of two to three pages of narrative 
describing the research objectives and methods of accomplishment. These 
will be reviewed relative to the scope and research needs of the EMP 
Program. Principal Investigator (PI) address, telephone number, fax 
number and e-mail address are required parts of the preapplication. A 
response to each preapplication discussing the potential program 
relevance of a formal application generally will be communicated within 
15 days of receipt. Use of electronic mail for this communication will 
decrease the possibility of delay in responses to the preapplication.
    The deadline for the submission of preapplications is April 28, 
2003. Applicants should allow sufficient time so that the formal 
application deadline is met. SC's preapplication policy can be found on 
SC's Grants and Contracts Web Site at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/preapp.html.

Merit Review

    Applications will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review) 
and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria which 
are listed in descending order of importance codified at 10 CFR 
605.10(d):
    1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project;
    2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach;
    3. Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed 
Resources;
    4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.
    The evaluation process will include program policy factors such as 
the relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement 
and the agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are 
selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence 
of conflict-of-interest issues. Both federal and non-federal reviewers 
will often be used, and submission of an application constitutes 
agreement that this is acceptable to the investigator(s) and the 
submitting institution.

Submission Information

    Information about development and submission of applications, 
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other 
policies and procedures may be found in 10 CFR part 605 and in the 
Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required forms is made 
available via the World Wide Web at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs 
associated with the preparation or submission of applications if an 
award is not made.
    The technical portion of the application should not exceed twenty-
five double-spaced pages and should include detailed budgets for each 
year of support requested. Awards are expected to begin on or about 
November 1, 2004. On the grant face page, form DOE F 4650.2, in block 
15, also provide the PI's phone number, fax number and e-mail address. 
Attachments include curriculum vitae, a listing of all current and 
pending federal support, and letters of intent when collaborations are 
part of the proposed research. Curriculum vitae should be submitted in 
a form similar to that of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or 
the National Science Foundation
    (NSF) (two to three pages). The applicants are asked to submit an 
electronic copy of the abstract in ASCII format to: 
[email protected]. The abstract should include the following 
information: PI and co-PIs, their institutions, and a brief summary of 
research.

[[Page 77758]]

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR part 
605.

    Issued in Washington DC, on December 10, 2002.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 02-31931 Filed 12-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P