Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding announcement under the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number G13AS00081 and is issued by the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK).

What is the purpose of the project?

The project is intended to document and quantify how mountain landscapes in the American West are changing, with a specific focus on glaciers and permanent snow and ice bodies. The goal is to produce a defensible, statistically meaningful assessment of glacier change that can be used to understand climate response and potential impacts on water supply dynamics.

Why are glaciers and permanent snow/ice bodies a focus?

Mountain glaciers and persistent snow and ice features can act as natural water storage, releasing meltwater through the summer when rainfall is often low. As glaciers shrink or disappear under a warming climate, both the timing and the amount of runoff can shift, which can affect downstream ecosystems and human water needs.

What kinds of historical information does the project expect to use?

The announcement emphasizes compiling and reconciling historical evidence about glacier extent and, where possible, volume. Historical sources specifically mentioned include legacy USGS and other maps, aerial photographs, ground-based photographs, and prior reports or studies.

Why is new or modern imagery needed if historical records exist?

Historical photographs and other records are described as uneven in where and when they were collected, including imagery originally gathered to support mapmaking rather than consistent glacier monitoring. The opportunity therefore calls for commissioning or collecting modern imagery to establish a consistent contemporary baseline.

What is meant by a "contemporary baseline" and why does it matter?

A contemporary baseline refers to consistent, present-day documentation of glacier outlines (and associated imagery/products) collected within a relatively short and consistent time window (a few years at most). It is positioned as essential because it helps anchor estimates of past change when historical records are incomplete and provides a standard reference for tracking future change.

What are the main mapping and analysis methods expected?

The project expects the use of oblique (angled) photographs of present-day glaciers and permanent snow bodies, followed by conversion of that imagery into georectified products that can be used in GIS. Current glacier outlines are to be mapped using remote sensing and aerial photograph surveys, then used to quantify area and support broader assessments.

What is georectification and why is it required here?

Georectification is the process of transforming imagery so it aligns correctly with real-world coordinates and terrain. The announcement indicates this is necessary so glacier outlines derived from photographs line up accurately in GIS, enabling accurate measurement of glacier area.

How does the opportunity propose estimating glacier volume change?

After establishing glacier area from mapped outlines, the opportunity anticipates estimating volume change using area-volume scaling approaches. This is described as a common technique for inferring ice volume from mapped surface area when direct thickness measurements are not available across many sites.

Is the work intended to be local, or regional across the West?

The intent is to apply the workflow across as many glaciers and persistent snow/ice features as feasible to support regional-scale inference across the western United States, rather than focusing on isolated case studies.

What are the key deliverables?

A major deliverable is a populated geospatial database that integrates assembled historical maps and photographs, newly collected photographs and remote sensing products, and both historic and current glacier outlines.

Will the data be publicly available?

Yes. The announcement specifically calls for making the data broadly accessible, not only for internal agency use. The plan is to publish the database and related materials on the web for use by the scientific community, students, and the general public.

What is the award type for this opportunity?

This is described as a discretionary science and technology/research and development award issued as a cooperative agreement.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity states there is an expectation of a single award.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding is $25,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided announcement summary.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.808, titled U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

What is the closing date to submit an application?

The key dates listed include an original closing date of July 12, 2013, and a current closing date of July 26, 2013.

What is the archive date?

The archive date listed is September 2, 2013.

Where can applicants find the full announcement?

A grants.gov link is provided in the announcement for full details.

Who is the point of contact for access or application assistance?

The listed point of contact is Faith Graves. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

Which USGS unit is issuing the announcement?

The funding announcement is issued by the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK).

What specific landscape features are included besides glaciers?

In addition to glaciers, the opportunity explicitly includes permanent snow and ice bodies (also described as persistent snow/ice features).

What kinds of modern data collection are mentioned?

The announcement references commissioning or collecting modern imagery, mapping current glacier outlines using remote sensing, and conducting aerial photograph surveys to support consistent baseline documentation.

What is the primary intended use of the final assessment?

The assessment is intended to support understanding of climate response and potential impacts on water supply dynamics by documenting changes in glacier extent (and, where possible, volume) and how those changes may influence runoff timing and amount.