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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF GeoPRISMS Program (NSF 16-560)

What is the NSF GeoPRISMS Program?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) GeoPRISMS Program (Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins) is a research grant opportunity focused on understanding how continental margins are built and reshaped through time. It emphasizes linked Earth processes from deep geodynamics to surface and sedimentary processes, including climate interactions.

What types of Earth systems and processes does GeoPRISMS focus on?

GeoPRISMS targets interconnected behavior among deep Earth processes (geodynamics), surface and sedimentary processes, and climate. A central concept is that continental margins cannot be understood by studying these components in isolation because they influence and feed back on one another over time.

What does it mean that GeoPRISMS research should "cross the shoreline"?

The program explicitly emphasizes research that connects onshore (terrestrial) and offshore (marine) observations. Because margin systems extend from land to sea, NSF highlighted proposals that link terrestrial and marine datasets, processes, and interpretations.

What are the two major GeoPRISMS science initiatives?

GeoPRISMS is organized around two coordinated science initiatives:

• Subduction Cycles and Deformation (convergent margins)
• Rift Initiation and Evolution (divergent settings)

What is the focus of the Subduction Cycles and Deformation initiative?

This initiative concentrates on convergent margins where one tectonic plate dives beneath another. These environments are associated with earthquakes, volcanic arcs, mountain building, and major movement of fluids and melts through the crust and mantle.

What is the focus of the Rift Initiation and Evolution initiative?

This initiative focuses on divergent settings where continents stretch and thin and may transition toward seafloor spreading. It addresses how new ocean basins and passive margins form, how magma and faults interact during continental breakup, and how sedimentary basins develop.

What are "primary sites" in GeoPRISMS?

Within each initiative, GeoPRISMS includes "primary sites" selected for concentrated, community-coordinated investigations. These sites are intended to organize and intensify research efforts in specific locations where the community expects high-impact science outcomes.

Are projects limited to the primary sites?

No. In addition to primary site investigations, the program includes complementary thematic studies intended to broaden the science beyond any single location.

What are the five overarching GeoPRISMS science themes?

Across both initiatives, GeoPRISMS is tied together by five overarching science themes where NSF expected high-impact advances from focused community effort:

1. Origin and evolution of continental crust (creation, modification, recycling of crust)
2. Fluids and magmas and their interactions (movement of water and melts and effects on deformation, volcanism, seismic behavior)
3. Climate-surface-tectonics feedbacks (coupling among uplift/subsidence, erosion, sedimentation, sea level, and climate)
4. Geochemical cycles (movement of elements and volatiles through Earth systems and broader implications)
5. Plate boundary deformation and geodynamics (mechanics and dynamics of evolving plate boundaries, strain localization, hazards)

How does GeoPRISMS connect deep Earth processes to surface processes?

The program framework emphasizes that deformation and magmatism at depth influence surface topography and sediment transport, while erosion and deposition at the surface (including climate-driven processes) feed back into how margins evolve through time.

Why is GeoPRISMS considered societally and economically important?

Continental margins host major societal and economic concerns. GeoPRISMS-supported research informs models of margin evolution and dynamics, improves understanding of stratigraphic architecture (the layered sediment record), and supports understanding of the formation and distribution of resources such as hydrocarbons, mineral deposits, and groundwater reservoirs.

What kinds of geologic hazards are relevant to GeoPRISMS research?

The opportunity highlights hazards tied to active margins, including large earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, along with related environmental management challenges, particularly in densely populated coastal regions.

What is the NSF funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The NSF Funding Opportunity Number listed is 16-560.

What federal assistance listing (CFDA) was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 47.050.

What category of funding was described in the announcement?

The announcement stated that NSF offered discretionary grant funding under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

Where were applicants directed for the GeoPRISMS science plan and program details?

The announcement pointed applicants to the GeoPRISMS science plan and additional program details hosted at http://www.geoprisms.org/.

What did NSF say proposals should align with?

Based on the announcement excerpt, proposals were expected to align with the program's initiatives, primary sites, and cross-cutting themes described in the GeoPRISMS science plan and related program materials.

How much funding was expected to be available for the program?

The stated expected funding level was approximately $4 million per year for the foreseeable future.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 26, 2016.

What was the closing date for this opportunity?

The original and current closing date listed was July 26, 2016.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others", with a note that additional clarification was referenced in an additional eligibility section (not included in the provided excerpt).

Does the excerpt provide the detailed eligibility criteria?

No. The excerpt notes that eligibility details were referenced elsewhere, but that additional eligibility section is not included in the information provided.

What is meant by "stratigraphic architecture" in the context of GeoPRISMS?

In this opportunity description, stratigraphic architecture refers to the layered record of sediment accumulation that preserves environmental and tectonic history and helps scientists interpret how margins evolve over time.