Opportunity Information: Apply for 06 561

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050 Geosciences.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2014 and posted on Apr 4, 2006.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Archived. Replaced by NSF 14 545.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) opportunity (NSF 06-561) was a National Science Foundation grant program in the Geosciences directorate focused on upper atmospheric research. It was described as a broad, community-initiated effort aimed at improving scientific understanding of how Earths atmosphere behaves from the middle atmosphere upward through the thermosphere and ionosphere and into the exosphere. The central theme was how these atmospheric regions are connected to each other across altitude ranges and how they respond, both regionally and globally, to energy inputs, chemical processes, and dynamic motions. In practice, the program targeted the full chain of physical drivers and responses that shape the near-Earth space environment, including how disturbances from below and inputs from above interact to produce variability throughout the upper atmosphere.

A key emphasis of the program was "coupling" across atmospheric layers and between different forcing sources. On the lower-atmosphere side, CEDAR highlighted perturbations that propagate upward, meaning waves and other dynamical disturbances generated in the lower and middle atmosphere that can travel into higher regions and alter winds, temperatures, composition, and ionospheric conditions. On the space-weather side, it also emphasized impacts from above, including solar radiation and energetic particle inputs that deposit energy into the upper atmosphere, drive ionization, change thermospheric heating rates, and influence ionospheric electrodynamics. The program framed these influences in terms of energetics (how energy is transferred, transformed, and dissipated), chemistry (how constituents are produced, destroyed, and transported), and dynamics (how winds, circulation, waves, and electrodynamic drifts shape variability). Together, these topics supported a more complete, systems-level view of the upper atmosphere rather than isolated studies of a single altitude region.

CEDAR-supported work was expected to integrate three main approaches: observations, theory, and modeling. Observational efforts could include ground-based and space-based measurements that characterize the state of the thermosphere and ionosphere and their variability. Theory components would focus on developing and refining physical explanations for observed phenomena, clarifying mechanisms of coupling and feedbacks, and providing simplified frameworks that guide interpretation. Modeling work would include numerical simulations and coupled models capable of representing interactions among atmospheric layers and between neutral and ionized components, with an eye toward reproducing observed behavior and improving predictive capability. The solicitation language made it clear that projects combining these approaches were central to the program identity, reflecting the complexity of the processes involved and the need to connect measurement with mechanism and simulation.

From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary NSF grant opportunity with an estimated total program funding level of about $1,000,000 and an anticipated 15 awards. The award ceiling listed was $150,000. It fell under the NSF Geosciences CFDA number 47.050 and did not require cost sharing or matching. Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning proposals were open to any applicant type, subject to any clarifications that might have appeared in the full announcement text. The original closing date was July 10, 2006, with subsequent due dates listed as May 10, 2007 and May 10 annually thereafter, reflecting a recurring submission cycle while the solicitation remained active.

The opportunity is now archived. The record notes it was replaced by NSF 14-545, and the archive date is April 15, 2014. For access issues related to the electronic announcement, the listing pointed applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and it referenced the full solicitation as NSF Publication 06-561.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the CEDAR grant opportunity (NSF 06-561)?

CEDAR stands for Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions. NSF 06-561 was a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program within the Geosciences directorate focused on upper atmospheric research. The program was described as a broad, community-initiated effort to improve scientific understanding of how Earth's atmosphere behaves from the middle atmosphere upward through the thermosphere and ionosphere and into the exosphere.

What scientific areas did CEDAR focus on?

The program focused on the upper atmosphere and near-Earth space environment, spanning the middle atmosphere through the thermosphere, ionosphere, and exosphere. A core emphasis was understanding how these regions are connected across altitude ranges and how they respond (regionally and globally) to energy inputs, chemical processes, and dynamic motions.

What does "coupling" mean in the context of this program?

In CEDAR, "coupling" referred to how different atmospheric layers influence one another across altitude ranges and how different forcing sources interact. This includes disturbances that originate below and propagate upward, as well as inputs from above (such as solar radiation and energetic particles) that affect upper atmospheric energetics and ionospheric conditions.

What kinds of "inputs from below" were highlighted?

CEDAR highlighted perturbations that propagate upward from the lower and middle atmosphere. These include waves and other dynamical disturbances that can travel into higher atmospheric regions and alter winds, temperatures, composition, and ionospheric conditions.

What kinds of "inputs from above" were emphasized?

The program emphasized space-weather influences from above, including solar radiation and energetic particle inputs. These inputs can deposit energy into the upper atmosphere, drive ionization, change thermospheric heating rates, and influence ionospheric electrodynamics.

What is meant by "energetics" in CEDAR?

"Energetics" in the CEDAR framing refers to how energy is transferred, transformed, and dissipated in the upper atmosphere and related regions, especially in response to forcing from below (e.g., upward-propagating disturbances) and from above (e.g., solar radiation and energetic particles).

What is meant by "chemistry" in CEDAR?

Chemistry refers to how atmospheric constituents are produced, destroyed, and transported. In the upper atmosphere context described by CEDAR, chemistry is intertwined with energy deposition and dynamic transport processes that shape composition and variability.

What is meant by "dynamics" in CEDAR?

Dynamics refers to motions and circulation processes such as winds, large-scale circulation, waves, and electrodynamic drifts. These dynamic processes help shape variability across the thermosphere and ionosphere and influence how coupling occurs across layers.

What types of research approaches were expected in CEDAR projects?

CEDAR-supported work was expected to integrate three main approaches: observations, theory, and modeling. The solicitation emphasized that projects combining these approaches were central to the program identity.

What kinds of observations were relevant to CEDAR?

Observational efforts could include ground-based and space-based measurements that characterize the state of the thermosphere and ionosphere and their variability.

What kinds of theory work fit within CEDAR?

Theory components were described as efforts to develop and refine physical explanations for observed phenomena, clarify mechanisms of coupling and feedbacks, and provide simplified frameworks that guide interpretation.

What kinds of modeling work fit within CEDAR?

Modeling work could include numerical simulations and coupled models representing interactions among atmospheric layers and between neutral and ionized components, with goals such as reproducing observed behavior and improving predictive capability.

Was CEDAR focused on isolated regions of the atmosphere or a systems-level view?

The program promoted a systems-level view of the upper atmosphere, emphasizing interactions across regions rather than isolated studies of a single altitude region.

How much total funding was estimated for the CEDAR program?

The estimated total program funding level was about $1,000,000.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated approximately 15 awards.

What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling was $150,000.

Did the CEDAR opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?

No. The listing stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning proposals were open to any applicant type, subject to any clarifications that might have appeared in the full announcement text.

What NSF area and CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was under the NSF Geosciences directorate and was associated with CFDA number 47.050.

When was the original closing date for NSF 06-561?

The original closing date was July 10, 2006.

Were there later due dates after the initial closing date?

Yes. Subsequent due dates were listed as May 10, 2007 and May 10 annually thereafter, indicating a recurring submission cycle while the solicitation remained active.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The opportunity is archived.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed for the record is April 15, 2014.

Was NSF 06-561 replaced by another solicitation?

Yes. The record notes it was replaced by NSF 14-545.

Where can I find the full solicitation reference for this program?

The full solicitation was referenced as NSF Publication 06-561.

Who should be contacted for access issues related to the electronic announcement?

For access issues related to the electronic announcement, the listing directed applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What was the overall goal of the CEDAR program in practical terms?

In practice, CEDAR targeted the full chain of physical drivers and responses shaping the near-Earth space environment, including how disturbances from below and inputs from above interact to produce variability throughout the upper atmosphere.

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