Atmospheric System Research (ASR) | DE FOA 0002198

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002198

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program in the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD), released this grant opportunity to fund Atmospheric System Research (ASR). The central purpose is to improve scientific understanding of atmospheric processes that control Earths radiation balance and the water cycle, especially the cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiative transfer processes that are not well represented in current regional and global climate models. The program is focused on reducing key uncertainties that limit model skill, which ultimately supports better prediction and understanding of climate and weather relevant phenomena.

The funding opportunity invites research proposals that are observational, data analysis-based, and/or modeling-focused, with a strong emphasis on using DOE-supported observations. A major resource highlighted is the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility, which provides long-term and field-campaign atmospheric measurements and associated infrastructure. Proposed work is expected to leverage ARM and other BER-supported observations to connect real-world measurements to improvements in process understanding and model representation.

The FOA identifies four main research thrusts. First, it seeks advances in aerosol-cloud interactions, meaning how aerosols influence cloud formation, cloud properties, precipitation development, and cloud lifetime, and how those effects feed back on radiation and climate. Second, it targets high-latitude atmospheric processes, which typically include cold-region clouds, boundary-layer structure, mixed-phase cloud behavior, Arctic amplification-related processes, and other polar or near-polar dynamics that are challenging for models but important for global climate sensitivity. Third, it explicitly supports aerosol and cloud research tied to ARMs Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER), a field effort designed to better understand how aerosols interact with convective clouds and storms, with the expectation that proposals will either use or help interpret TRACER-related observations. Fourth, it encourages the development of new proof-of-concept data products derived from ARM site instruments, which can include new retrieval algorithms, merged or value-added datasets, or methods that transform raw instrument data into more usable variables for scientific analysis and model evaluation.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002198) under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 81.049). The agency anticipated making around 20 awards, with an award ceiling listed at $900,000. The opportunity was created on November 20, 2019, and the original application closing date was March 10, 2020. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text of the announcement, implying that applicants should check the FOA details for the exact list of eligible institution types and any restrictions.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at generating results that directly strengthen the scientific basis for representing clouds, aerosols, and related processes in models, while also expanding the value of DOE observational assets like ARM through new analyses, campaign-related studies, and improved data products. The stated public benefit is increased understanding of the Earth system, particularly in ways that improve predictive capability and reduce uncertainty in projections tied to radiation and the hydrological cycle.

• 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 Nov 20, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 10, 2020. (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 $900,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for DE FOA 0002198

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