FY 1996 Budget Request: NSF - Geosciences, Polar Programs

Below are summaries of the Fiscal Year 1996 National Science Foundation budget requests for the Geosciences Activity and Polar Programs. These are two separate activities and budgets under NSF’s Research and Related Activities appropriation (comparable to the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Activity which supports physics and astronomy research.) See FYI #22 for an overview of the entire NSF budget; as well as FYI #26 and forthcoming FYI #29 and 30.

GEOSCIENCES ACTIVITY: NSF requested a $451.48 million budget for this activity, which is a 7.6%, or $31.99 million increase. There are three subactivities funded under this budget, each containing separate categories:

Atmospheric Sciences Subactivity: NSF requested $155.84 million, which is a $12.03 million (8.4%) increase. There are two categories of spending under this subactivity. The first category is Atmospheric Sciences Research Support, which would receive a budget of $91.01 million. NSF proposes to increase this research support by $5.58 million (6.5%) to permit “a better understanding and improved predictive capability of costly and disruptive storms on Earth and in space; and continued support of activities that are a part of international field programs....” The second category is the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which would receive a $6.45 million (11.0%) increase for a total of $64.83 million. This increase would upgrade “high-performance computing and data storage facilities to support large, long-running simulations of Earth’s climate system....”

Earth Sciences Subactivity: NSF requested $90.05 million, which is a $7.74 million (9.4%) increase. There are three categories of spending under this subactivity. The first category is Earth Sciences Project Support, which would receive $58.57 million. NSF requested an increase of $4.08 million (7.5%) for interdisciplinary emphasis in various areas, a joint initiative with the Ocean Sciences Subactivity, and additional support for university student research. The second category is Instrumentation and Facilities, for which $22.15 million is requested, an increase of $1.72 million (8.4%). This increase is targeted for the global seismic network and shared analytical facilities. The third category is Continental Dynamics, for which $9.33 million is requested, an increase of $1.94 million (26.3%) for “participation of U.S. scientists and engineers in a coordinated international continental drilling activity.” The budget document states, “The funds requested above for the Earth Sciences Subactivity include $11.20 million, an increase of $300,000 for research on fundamental earthquake studies, an element of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program.”

Ocean Sciences Subactivity: NSF requested $205.59 million, which is a $12.22 million (6.3%) increase. There are three categories of spending under this subactivity. The first category is Ocean Sciences Research Support, which would receive $111.30 million. A $7.40 million (7.2%) increase is requested for the Coastal Ocean Processes Program, the RIDGE Mantle Electromagnetic and Tomography project, and focused studies of continental margins. The second category is Oceanographic Centers and Facilities, which would receive $54.20 million, an increase of $3.60 million (7.1%). This increase “will support continued ship and submersible operations, maintenance, and technical support, as well as instrumentation improvements and coordination functions.” The third category is the Ocean Drilling Program, which would receive a $41.09 million budget, an increase of $1.22 million (3.1%), “to maintain the current level of effort for the program as operating costs increase.”

U.S. POLAR PROGRAMS: NSF is requesting a $234.88 million budget, which is a 6.1% or $13.48 million increase. The budget document states:

“NSF conducts Polar Programs through two Activities:

“U.S. Polar Research Programs includes funding for both arctic and antarctic research, as well as operations and science support.

“U.S. Antarctic Logistical Support Activities funds logistics provided by the Department of Defense that contribute to the U.S. presence in Antarctica.” NSF is requesting $62.60 million for this Activity, which is the current year budget.

The Polar Research Programs budget would increase $13.48 million (8.5%) to $172.28 million. There are three Polar Research Program components. The first component is the U.S. Arctic Research Program, for which $31.57 million is requested, a $6.0 million (23.5%) increase. This increase is targeted toward Arctic System Science, Arctic Logistics, and other research projects. The second component is U.S. Antarctic Research Program, for which $31.54 is requested, an increase of $2.48 million (8.5%). This increase would support major research cruises, McMurdo science laboratory environmental research, and “support for the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) program, a multidisciplinary program investigating the potential collapse of this massive ice sheet and its possible impact on sea level.” The third component under this over-all budget is Operations and Science Support. A $109.17 million budget is requested, which is an increase of $5.00 million (4.8%). The increase is targeted to “various civilian contractor functions to support the antarctic research program,” including increases in Research Support and Information Systems.