Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR OWAQ 2016 2004838
Apply for NOAA OAR OWAQ 2016 2004838
- The DOC in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2016 Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment in the Southeast U.S. (VORTEX-SE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.459.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 01, 2016 and posted on Mar 01, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2016 Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment in the Southeast U.S. (VORTEX-SE) grant opportunity is a NOAA-led research funding call focused on improving what is known about tornado formation and impacts in the southeastern United States. It is jointly issued by the Department of Commerce (DOC), specifically NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) through its Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ), in collaboration with NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). The core purpose is to generate new, actionable knowledge that can strengthen tornado understanding, forecasting, warning services, and public safety outcomes across a region that has unique meteorological conditions and risk factors.
The opportunity targets two connected research tracks. The first is physical science research: studies of the meteorological processes that lead to tornado development in the Southeast, including the "origins of rotation" that can precede and accompany tornadic storms. Alongside traditional atmospheric measurements and analysis, the solicitation explicitly highlights infrasound, meaning low-frequency acoustic signals that can be produced by severe storms and tornadoes. By encouraging work on both meteorology and infrasound, the program aims to expand the observational and analytical toolkit used to detect, characterize, and potentially anticipate tornadic activity, especially under conditions common in the Southeast such as complex terrain, high humidity, messy storm modes, and frequent nocturnal events.
The second track is social and behavioral research: work that examines how people interpret and respond to tornado forecasts, warnings, and the events themselves. This includes questions such as what information prompts protective action, how warnings are received and trusted, how situational constraints affect decision-making, and which communication strategies lead to faster or more appropriate responses. The intent is not simply to study public behavior in the abstract, but to directly inform warning practices and messaging so that forecasts and warnings lead to real-world actions that reduce injuries, fatalities, and property damage.
In terms of mechanics, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically implies substantial agency involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant. The activity category is research and development within environment, natural resources, and science and technology. The CFDA number listed is 11.459. The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR OWAQ 2016 2004838. The opportunity was posted on March 1, 2016, and the application deadline was April 29, 2016.
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000, and NOAA anticipated making about 17 awards under this announcement. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with applicants directed to consult the additional eligibility language in the full notice for clarification, suggesting that eligibility could extend beyond a narrow set of applicant types depending on the detailed requirements.
Overall, the VORTEX-SE FY 2016 solicitation is designed to bring together atmospheric science, acoustic/infrasound methods, and social science to close key knowledge gaps about southeastern U.S. tornadoes. The practical end goal is improved forecasting and warning performance paired with better public response, thereby mitigating the human and economic toll of tornado events in the region.
FAQs: FY 2016 VORTEX-SE (Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment in the Southeast U.S.)
What is the VORTEX-SE FY 2016 grant opportunity?
It is a NOAA-led research funding opportunity focused on improving understanding of tornado formation and impacts in the southeastern United States. The program is designed to produce actionable knowledge that strengthens tornado science, forecasting and warning services, and public safety outcomes in a region with unique meteorological conditions and risk factors.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The opportunity is jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), specifically NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) through its Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ), in collaboration with NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).
What is the primary purpose of this solicitation?
The core purpose is to generate new, actionable research that improves tornado understanding and supports better forecasting, warning services, and public safety outcomes across the southeastern U.S.
What region is this opportunity focused on?
The research focus is the southeastern United States, where tornado risk is shaped by factors such as complex terrain, high humidity, complicated storm modes, and frequent nighttime (nocturnal) tornado events.
What research areas does the opportunity support?
The solicitation targets two connected tracks: (1) physical science research on meteorological processes tied to tornado development in the Southeast, including the origins of rotation; and (2) social and behavioral research on how people interpret and respond to tornado forecasts, warnings, and events.
What is meant by the "origins of rotation" in this context?
It refers to the meteorological processes that can precede and accompany tornadic storms, especially the development of rotation that may be linked to tornado formation in the Southeast.
Does the solicitation include research beyond traditional meteorology?
Yes. Alongside atmospheric measurements and analysis, the opportunity explicitly highlights infrasound, meaning low-frequency acoustic signals that can be produced by severe storms and tornadoes.
What is infrasound and why is it included?
Infrasound refers to low-frequency acoustic signals. The solicitation highlights it because severe storms and tornadoes can produce these signals, and studying them may expand the tools available to detect, characterize, and potentially anticipate tornadic activity, particularly under challenging southeastern U.S. conditions.
What types of social and behavioral research are encouraged?
The opportunity encourages research on how people interpret and respond to tornado forecasts and warnings, including what information prompts protective action, how warnings are received and trusted, how situational constraints affect decision-making, and which communication strategies lead to faster or more appropriate responses.
Is the goal of the social science track purely academic?
No. The stated intent is to directly inform warning practices and messaging so that forecasts and warnings lead to real-world actions that reduce injuries, fatalities, and property damage.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial agency involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant.
What is the activity category for this funding?
The activity category is research and development within environment, natural resources, and science and technology.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 11.459.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR OWAQ 2016 2004838.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 1, 2016.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was April 29, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000.
How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making about 17 awards under this announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." Applicants are directed to consult the additional eligibility language in the full notice for clarification, suggesting eligibility may extend beyond a narrow set of applicant types depending on the detailed requirements.
How does this opportunity aim to improve tornado forecasting and warnings?
By supporting integrated research in atmospheric science, infrasound methods, and social/behavioral science, the program seeks to close knowledge gaps that limit forecasting and warning performance, while also improving how warnings are communicated and acted upon in the real world.
What kinds of outcomes is NOAA trying to achieve through this program?
The practical end goal is improved forecasting and warning performance paired with better public response, thereby reducing the human and economic toll of tornado events in the southeastern United States.
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