NSF FY 2001 Request: Geosciences

The following information and excerpts are from the National Science Foundation’s FY 2001 submission to Congress for the Geosciences Activity:

The FY 2001 Geosciences budget would increase $95.20 million, or 19.5%, from $487.80 million to $583.00 million. The Geosciences Activity has three components:

The Atmospheric Sciences budget would increase $29.20 million, or 17.7%, from $164.81 million to $194.01 million. There are two programs within this budget. The budget for Atmospheric Sciences Research Support would increase $22.30 million, or 23.2%, from $95.96 million to $118.26 million. Highlights in the next fiscal year include “examination of important biogeochemical cycles including emphasis on understanding the sources, sinks and processes which control the atmospheric abundance and distribution of carbon, water and nutrient elements,” understanding the atmospheric environment through information technology research, new environmental modeling “to improve predictions of fundamental atmospheric and Earth system processes,” and continued support of ongoing research programs. The budget for the National Center for Atmospheric Research would increase $6.90 million, or 10.0%, from $68.85 million to $75.75 million. Support would continue for ongoing programs and for the refurbishment of the NCAR building.

The Earth Sciences budget would increase $16.86 million, or 16.6%, from $101.66 million to $118.51 million. There are three programs within this budget. The budget for Earth Sciences Project Support would increase $12.10 million, or 18.4%, from $65.91 million to $78.00 million. Priorities in FY 2001 include multidisciplinary studies of cycles governing the character of the Earth’s surface, improving the understanding of natural hazards, “expanding the geophysical observational capabilities of the Earth Sciences,” and “enhancement of capabilities for computationally challenging planetary research.” The budget for Instrumentation and Facilities would increase $4.05 million, or 15.0%, from $26.95 million to $31.00 million. Priorities for FY 2001 include “a systematic enhancement of seismic, geodetic and other geophysical observational platforms on the North American continent,” “support for the development of ultra-high pressure technology enabling laboratory investigations of Earth and other planetary bodies under extreme conditions” in planetary interiors, and “support for the IRIS facility in order to enhance operation and deployment of the Global Seismic Network.” The budget for Continental Dynamics would increase $0.71 million, or 8.1%, from $8.80 million to $9.51 million. Priorities for FY 2001 include “national and international continental scientific drilling” for earthquake and volcanic research, “science activities related to the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth,” and “support for the use of field laboratories focusing on geological and geophysical processes that shape and alter the planet’s continental crust.”

The Ocean Sciences budget would increase $49.15 million, or 22.2%, from $221.33 million to $270.48 million. There are three programs within this budget. The budget for Ocean Sciences Research Support would increase $28.70 million, or 23.0%, from $125.00 million to $153.70 million. Nine different priorities were identified for FY 2001 that include research in areas such as marine biocomplexity, the earth’s carbon cycle, and life in extreme environments. The budget for Oceanographic Centers and Facilities would increase $13.45 million, or 27.3%, from $49.33 million to $62.78 million. Priorities include “continued support for the academic research fleet,” “enhancement of technical and shared-use instrumentation support for research projects,” “continued maintenance and ship-improvement programs,” and “increased support for quality improvement activities in operations and technical and services programs.” The budget for the Ocean Drilling Program would increase $7.00 million, or 14.9%, from $47.00 million to $54.00 million. Priorities include continued support for research with international partners, “enhanced support for research projects awarded to sea- going scientists,” and “continued support for new scientific and operational developments to extend capabilities for deep biosphere investigations for ocean biocomplexity studies.”