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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Climate and Large Scale Dynamics (CLD)

1) What is the NSF Climate and Large Scale Dynamics (CLD) program?

Climate and Large Scale Dynamics (CLD) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity that supports research aimed at improving scientific understanding of how the atmosphere works on large spatial scales and across weather-to-climate time horizons.

2) What are the core goals of CLD?

CLD has two core goals: (1) advance knowledge of the physical processes that force, shape, and regulate synoptic and planetary circulation, weather, and climate; and (2) maintain and develop the skilled research workforce needed for long-term excellence in synoptic and global atmospheric dynamics and climate science.

3) What kinds of research topics does CLD fund?

CLD funds a wide range of topics spanning theory, observations, and modeling related to large-scale atmospheric dynamics, weather, climate, and climate variability and change. It also supports work that strengthens the tools and datasets used to study and predict weather and climate.

4) Does CLD support both fundamental science and workforce development?

Yes. CLD is interested in fundamental advances in atmospheric dynamics and in building capacity through strong research programs that train students and early-career researchers and sustain expertise in the field.

5) What atmospheric circulation and dynamics areas are within scope?

CLD includes studies of the general circulation of the troposphere and stratosphere, the behavior of synoptic-scale systems (such as cyclones, jet streams, storm tracks, blocking patterns, and large-scale wave dynamics), and mechanisms governing climate and its variability.

6) Does the program cover climate variability and climate change?

Yes. CLD explicitly covers research into the causes of climate variability and change, including internal variability and forced responses.

7) Is research on predictability and forecast skill relevant to CLD?

Yes. CLD welcomes work that improves the ability to predict climate variations and extended weather and climate behavior, including studies of predictability limits and sources of forecast skill.

8) What types of modeling improvements does CLD emphasize?

CLD emphasizes improving tools used in large-scale weather and climate modeling, including development and testing of parameterizations for physical processes that cannot be resolved directly and numerical methods that improve the stability, accuracy, and efficiency of large-scale models.

9) What examples of parameterizations are mentioned as relevant?

Examples include parameterizations related to convection, clouds, boundary layer processes, gravity wave drag, and radiation-related processes.

10) Does CLD support numerical methods research for models?

Yes. CLD includes numerical methods work aimed at improving the stability, accuracy, and efficiency of large-scale weather and climate models.

11) Does CLD support observational or dataset-focused research?

Yes. CLD supports data-centric research, including the assembly, quality control, and analysis of instrumental datasets and model-generated datasets relevant to weather and climate.

12) Are data assimilation studies included?

Yes. CLD includes data assimilation studies focused on methods for combining observations with models to create physically consistent estimates of the atmospheric state and to improve forecasts and reanalyses.

13) Does CLD fund the development and application of climate models as scientific tools?

Yes. CLD supports development and application of climate models to diagnose, simulate, and understand climate behavior, variability, and change, including using models to test hypotheses about mechanisms and to interpret observed patterns.

14) Is there a fixed annual deadline for CLD proposals?

No. A practical feature of CLD is its flexible submission schedule: proposals are accepted at any time, with no single annual deadline listed for CLD itself.

15) Why might the submission timing depend on other NSF programs?

Many CLD proposals are multidisciplinary and may be co-reviewed with other NSF programs. Some of those other programs use panel reviews and operate with specific target dates or deadlines, which can affect when an applicant should submit.

16) What happens if my project overlaps with other disciplines or NSF programs?

If a proposed project substantially overlaps with areas typically handled by other NSF divisions or programs (for example ocean sciences, ecological sciences, hydrological sciences, geography and regional science, or applied mathematics and statistics), applicants may need to submit on a schedule that aligns with the relevant co-review program deadlines.

17) What should I do if it is unclear whether my proposal should be co-reviewed?

NSF encourages prospective applicants to contact CLD program staff to clarify program fit and submission timing when co-review or timing is not obvious.

18) What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.

19) Is cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing is not required.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to applicant types), subject to any specific clarifications in the full program text.

21) What is the CFDA number and category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 47.050 (Geosciences) and is in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

22) When was this opportunity posted, and is it still open?

The opportunity was posted on March 13, 2015, and remains open with proposals accepted anytime.

23) Where can applicants get help if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?

For access issues related to the full announcement, NSF directs applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.