Climate and Earth System Modeling SciDAC and Climate Variability and Change | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Climate and Earth System Modeling SciDAC and Climate Variability and Change funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, run through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD). The Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is DE-FOA-0001036.

What is the main purpose of DE-FOA-0001036?

The central purpose is to strengthen the nation's ability to understand and predict climate variability and long-term climate change by improving and using high-fidelity, community Earth system models. DOE is looking to support research that builds better Earth system models and/or uses those models with observations to explain and attribute climate behavior driven by natural factors and human activities.

Which DOE office and programs are behind this FOA?

The FOA is managed by DOE's Office of Science through BER, specifically CESD. It is tied to two complementary modeling programs described in the announcement: the Earth System Modeling (ESM) Program and the Regional and Global Climate Modeling (RGCM) Program.

What types of projects fit the Earth System Modeling (ESM) Program focus?

The ESM Program is primarily oriented toward model development. This includes advancing the computational and mathematical foundations of Earth system models and improving the physical, chemical, and biological representations of major Earth system components (such as the atmosphere, oceans, land processes, biogeochemistry, and coupled interactions). The description also emphasizes calibration and rigorous testing of predictive skill using uncertainty quantification methods.

What types of projects fit the Regional and Global Climate Modeling (RGCM) Program focus?

The RGCM Program is primarily oriented toward model-based analysis. It aims to improve predictive understanding by using global and regional model simulations to analyze climate variability and change and to separate (disentangle) the roles of natural variability versus anthropogenic forcing. Proposals that combine model simulations with observational evidence (measurements, reanalyses, or other observational products) align well with this intent.

Does DOE expect proposals to include uncertainty quantification (UQ)?

Yes. The ESM program description explicitly emphasizes calibration and rigorous testing of predictive skill using uncertainty quantification methods, indicating that uncertainty should be treated as a primary scientific issue and not as an afterthought.

Is combining models and observations encouraged?

Yes. A core idea in the RGCM description is that combining simulations with observational evidence produces deeper insight than either approach alone, so proposals that connect model experiments to observations, reanalyses, or other observational products are consistent with the stated intent.

How do ESM and RGCM relate to other DOE BER programs?

The FOA states that ESM and RGCM coordinate with DOE BER's Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) and Atmospheric System Research (ASR) programs. Process-level research from TES and ASR is expected to inform and improve model development, while model simulations are expected to help identify where additional field, laboratory, or observational process research is most needed.

What kind of overall approach does DOE seem to be looking for?

Based on the description, DOE is emphasizing high-fidelity community modeling, improved representation of Earth system dynamics and biogeophysical processes, careful calibration and assessment of predictive performance, explicit uncertainty treatment via UQ methods, and strong connections among model development, model analysis, and observational evidence.

Do proposals need to choose between ESM and RGCM?

The FOA describes ESM and RGCM as complementary. A well-aligned project would clearly state whether it primarily advances the modeling system itself (ESM), primarily uses model experiments to diagnose climate variability and change (RGCM), or bridges both in a way that is credible, testable, and useful to the broader community modeling enterprise.

What is the estimated total funding available under this opportunity?

The estimated total funding listed is $8,000,000.

What is the expected size range for individual awards?

The anticipated award sizes range from an award floor of $150,000 to an award ceiling of $500,000.

What funding mechanism is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity supports either grants or cooperative agreements under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049) and is categorized as discretionary funding.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to essentially all applicant types, with one specific exclusion noted in the posting.

Are any organizations explicitly ineligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations described under IRS 501(c)(4) that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible.

What are the key dates for this FOA?

The posting date is November 20, 2013, and the closing date for applications is March 3, 2014. The FOA is listed as archived on June 3, 2014.

Where can applicants find the full announcement and related documents?

The additional information link points to FedConnect for accessing the full announcement details and related documents.

Who are the administrative contacts for this funding opportunity?

The administrative contacts listed are Kimberlie J. Laing (Grant Specialist, 301-903-3026, kim.laing@science.doe.gov) and Dorothy M. Koch (Program Manager, 301-903-0105, dorothy.koch@science.doe.gov).

What kinds of Earth system components are explicitly mentioned as areas for improvement?

The FOA description gives examples including the atmosphere, oceans, land processes, biogeochemistry, and coupled interactions across these components.

What does the FOA say about attribution of climate behavior?

The opportunity description indicates DOE is interested in using models (along with observations) to explain and attribute climate behavior driven by both natural factors and human activities, including efforts to separate natural variability from anthropogenic forcing.

Does the FOA emphasize community modeling?

Yes. The stated aim includes improving and using high-fidelity, community Earth system models, and it also notes that projects should be demonstrably useful to the broader community modeling enterprise.