Geomorphology and Land use Dynamics (GLD) | Apply Online

Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics (GLD) Program (NSF 15-560) FAQs

1. What is the GLD program?

The Geomorphology and Land use Dynamics (GLD) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant opportunity focused on advancing scientific understanding of how landscapes are formed, altered, and maintained across a wide range of spatial and time scales.

2. What kinds of scientific questions does GLD support?

GLD supports research that explains the physical and biological processes that shape the Earths surface and how those processes interact. A central theme is quantitative work that measures, models, or rigorously evaluates process rates, feedbacks, and the relative importance of different drivers of landscape change.

3. What spatial scales are relevant to GLD projects?

The program spans landscapes from small features such as hillslopes and channels to larger systems like whole drainage basins.

4. What time scales are relevant to GLD projects?

GLD supports studies ranging from short-term events to long-term landscape evolution.

5. Does GLD emphasize quantitative approaches?

Yes. The program highlights quantitative work that can evaluate rates, feedbacks, and competing drivers of change, especially where drivers vary due to climate, ecosystems and biology, tectonics, and human land use.

6. What does GLD mean by coupling and feedbacks among geomorphic processes?

GLD particularly encourages studies that examine how geomorphic processes interact rather than treating them as isolated components. This includes work that links processes (for example, erosion and sediment transport) with other factors such as vegetation change, hydrology, land management, extreme storms, or tectonic uplift, and tests how these connections influence landscape response over time.

7. What types of environmental or boundary-condition changes are of interest?

The program description highlights interest in landscapes under changing boundary conditions, including climate variability and change, biologic influences, tectonic setting, and human impacts.

8. What human impacts and land-use changes are within scope?

Examples of human impacts called out in the description include land use change, agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, wildfire management, mining, river engineering, and other disturbances that modify sediment supply and transport pathways.

9. What research methods does GLD support?

The program is intentionally broad and supports multiple approaches, including field observations and measurements, laboratory and physical experiments, numerical and analytical modeling, theoretical development, and integrated studies that combine several of these.

10. Are integrated studies encouraged?

Yes. GLD supports integrated studies and particularly encourages research that combines methods (for example, linking field data with modeling or experiments) to evaluate hypotheses about landscape behavior and change.

11. What kinds of project outcomes are described as competitive?

Competitive projects typically aim to produce results that are not purely descriptive. The description emphasizes testable and generalizable results, using quantitative data or models to evaluate hypotheses about how landscapes behave, how fast they change, and why similar environments can evolve differently under different climatic, biologic, tectonic, or human conditions.

12. What agency sponsors this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).

13. What is the official identifier for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is identified as NSF Publication 15-560 and Funding Opportunity Number 15-560.

14. What type of grant is this?

This is described as a discretionary NSF research grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

15. What CFDA number and program area are associated with this opportunity?

The listing associates this opportunity with CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences).

16. Is there a fixed deadline to apply?

No. Proposals are accepted at any time rather than being tied to a single annual deadline, allowing investigators to submit when their project is ready.

17. How many awards does NSF expect to make under GLD?

NSF anticipates making about 30 awards.

18. What is the estimated total funding level for the program?

The estimated total program funding level is around $5,000,000.

19. What is the typical award size range?

Typical award sizes fall between $100,000 (award floor) and $500,000 (award ceiling).

20. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.

21. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes US-based academic institutions (accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges, with a US campus) submitting on behalf of faculty.

22. Are non-academic organizations eligible?

Yes. Certain US-based non-profit, non-academic research and education organizations are included, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities associated with educational or research activities.

23. Can a community college apply?

Yes. Accredited two-year colleges, including community colleges with a US campus, are listed as eligible academic institutions.

24. What support contact is provided for access issues related to the listing?

For access issues, the listing directs applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.