The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is announcing the release of the Measurements, Modeling, and Analyses in support of AURA and other NASA Satellite Observations of the Earth's Atmosphere solicitation. With the planned launch of the Aura spacecraft in mid-CY 2004, NASA will be providing the research community with significant new capability that will provide products of use to a broad range of policy and decision-makers, including NASA's domestic and international partners.
The full range of Aura's capability may be found on the EOS Project Science web site: http://eos-aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/
New capabilities include:
o First global measurements of the vertical profiles of tropospheric ozone and several key precursors
o Global measurements of column amounts of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and other constituents that can be used to assess tropospheric and stratospheric composition
o Highest horizontal resolution global measurements of vertical profiles of ozone, water vapor, and related chemical constituents in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere
o First-ever global observation of profiles of several important trace gases in the stratosphere, most notably the hydroxyl radical
o A comprehensive measurement of aerosol and cloud properties making use of a combination of wavelengths not available on any other space-based platform
It is the NASA Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) view that one of the most important contributions of the Aura Mission to Earth System Science will come from the synergistic use of satellite observations, sub-orbital observations, and models that can assure the accuracy of the new Aura observations, provide ways of looking at atmospheric composition not possible with suborbital data alone. This combination of assets will synthesize Aura observations into data sets for scientific research and use by others for policy and/or decision-making. The goals of this research are to answer key science questions:
· How is atmospheric composition changing?
· What trends in atmospheric constituents and solar radiation are driving global climate?
· How do atmospheric trace constituents respond to and affect global environmental change?
· What are the effects of global atmospheric chemical and climate changes on regional air quality?
· How will future changes in atmospheric composition affect ozone, climate, and global air quality?
Investigations in the following categories are being solicited:
A) Validation of Aura observations
B) Extension of Aura observations
C) Models that use, predict, and/or assimilate Aura observations
D) Laboratory and related theoretical observations that are needed to improve the accuracy of Aura retrievals.
E) Investigations that will contribute to measurements, modeling, and data analysis research supported under the Earth Science Enterprise's Atmospheric Composition Focus Area.
The solicitation will be available electronically on the release date, via the Internet at the Research Opportunities Web Page at http://research.nasa.gov under "Office of Earth Science (Code Y)". A paper copy will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice mail message. The following dates apply to this announcement:
Notice of Intent Due: July 16, 2004
Proposals Due:
For the INTEX-B component of the Aura Validation: Sept. 30, 2004
All other proposals will be due on August 30, 2004
POC:
Dr. Philip L. DeCola
Program Scientist
NASA Headquarters, Code YS
Washington, DC 20546
Phone: (202) 358-0768
FAX: (202) 358-2770
E-mail: Philip.L.DeCola@nasa.gov
This is a broad Agency announcement as specified in FAR 6.102 (d) (2).
Notwithstanding the posting of this opportunity at FedBizOpps.gov, Grants.gov, or at both sites, NASA reserves the right to determine the appropriate award instrument for each proposal selected pursuant to this announcement.
