Announcement of Opportunity for
LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS IN THE ARCTIC
NSF invites proposals for improvements to the observational
infrastructure in the Arctic, including environmental observatories,
remote/autonomous instruments, and sample repositories across a variety
of scientific disciplines.
The Announcement of Opportunity can be found at:
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf99101
Proposals are due June 25, 1999.
Questions regarding proposal preparation or submission may be directed
to Mr. Charles Myers, Office of Polar Programs, (703) 306-1029,
email:cmyers [at] nsf.gov.
LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS IN THE ARCTIC:
ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATORIES
REMOTE/AUTONOMOUS INSTRUMENTS
SAMPLE REPOSITORIES
Environmental Observatories: The coordinated development of a set of
strategically placed facilities, each of which is equipped for on-site
research into processes that span Arctic science and for collection of
year-round, comprehensive suites of observations. These might develop
rather easily from systematic enhancements of existing facilities,
including those in Greenland and Alaska or observation systems
established at sites where data have not been collected previously. The
development of Arctic Environmental Observatories is likely to spur
technological advances in automated and remote sensing technology.
Enhancement of local centers/research sites/facilities, including
cultural and social science centers, community museums, will also be
considered. Such enhancements could include spatial sampling; social
science data gathering, processing, archiving, and dissemination; and
activities for local community involvement and cross-disciplinary
collaboration. Observatories could also serve as bases for support of
field work in surrounding areas. Where observatories are not practical,
proposals to facilitate researchers' work through "virtual centers" in
particular disciplines, involving communication with colleagues, data
management, and logistics coordination will be entertained. The social
sciences should be a key part of the recommended network of Arctic
Environmental Observatories. Integration of education efforts and social
science research with other ongoing studies, improving communication
among Arctic social and physical/natural scientists and providing access
to diverse cultures across geographical areas will be a priority.
Remote/Autonomous Instruments: Some examples of relevant activities not
directly tied to specific environmental observatories include moorings,
drifting and land-based automated sampling stations, regular
hydrographic surveys, long-term remote observations of animal
populations, permafrost and ice sheet monitoring, submarine surveys of
ice thickness and distribution, expanded measurements of terrestrial and
oceanic weather, increased atmospheric sampling, and snow measurements.
Related needs include the technical development of miniaturized, remote,
automated sensing devices, and the support of field-instrument
development, and deployment of these instruments at sites that
facilitate achievement of better spatial and temporal coverage.
Sample Repositories: Samples collected in one research project may be
valuable for other related or non-related studies conducted, in some
cases, many years later. Examples of the application of this principle
are common for ice and marine-sediment cores, rock samples, and
biological specimens. In the case of the social sciences in the Arctic,
facilities for data processing, archiving, and dissemination are needed
to enhance opportunities for social scientists to attain cross-
fertilization of research projects across diverse disciplines and to
establish and maintain improved communication with Arctic communities.
Proposals to support a facility for storing, cataloging, and making
available historical and new Arctic samples of particular value due to
their rarity, importance to a wide range of studies, including education
or great expense for re-collection are particularly encouraged.
Proposals will also be considered (with the US Antarctic Program) for
consolidation of Arctic and Antarctic repositories.
The Announcement of Opportunity can be found at:
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf99101