Marine Geology and Geophysics | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Marine Geology and Geophysics (PD 98-1620)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Marine Geology and Geophysics program, Funding Opportunity Number PD 98-1620. It supports scientific research in marine geology and marine geophysics.

2) Which NSF area and CFDA listing does this program fall under?

The program sits within NSF's Geosciences portfolio and is associated with CFDA 47.050. It supports research and development activities in science and technology.

3) What kinds of research does the program fund?

The program funds research aimed at improving fundamental understanding of how the seafloor and adjacent continental edges are built, how they change through time, and how physical, chemical, and sedimentary processes shape marine environments across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.

4) Does the program only cover the ocean, or are other large water bodies included?

The scope explicitly includes the Great Lakes in addition to ocean basins and continental margins.

5) What are the main research themes encouraged by the program?

The described themes include: (a) structure and tectonic evolution of ocean basins and continental margins; (b) marine volcanism and crustal formation in tectonically active settings; (c) heat flow and chemical exchange between seawater and ocean rocks (including hydrothermal circulation and water-rock interactions); (d) marine sediments (their genesis, chemistry, mineralogy, and evolution); (e) physical sedimentary processes such as deposition, erosion, and transport; (f) reconstructions of past ocean circulation and climates using marine geologic records; and (g) linkages between continental and marine geologic processes (including source-to-sink studies).

6) What types of tectonic and volcanic settings are specifically mentioned?

The opportunity description highlights tectonically active regions including mid-ocean ridges (where new oceanic crust is formed) and island arc systems associated with subduction zones, along with other active tectonic environments.

7) What kinds of questions fit under "structure and tectonic evolution"?

Examples of the kinds of topics described include investigating the geologic architecture of the seafloor, the history of plate motions, deformation and faulting, the formation and evolution of crust, and the drivers and consequences of marine volcanism.

8) Does the program support research on hydrothermal systems and water-rock interactions?

Yes. The description explicitly includes studies of heat flow and chemical exchange between seawater and ocean rocks, including hydrothermal circulation and water-rock interactions that influence ocean chemistry, mineral formation, and the thermal evolution of the lithosphere.

9) What sediment-related research areas are included?

The program supports research on the genesis, chemistry, and mineralogical evolution of marine sediments, including sediment sources and diagenesis (post-depositional alteration). It also supports studies of the physical processes controlling sediment deposition, erosion, and transport.

10) What physical sediment processes are called out in the description?

Examples listed include gravity-driven flows, bottom currents, wave and storm influences, and mass wasting on continental slopes.

11) Is paleoclimate or past ocean circulation research within scope?

Yes. The description notes that because sediments preserve long environmental histories, the program includes research on past ocean circulation patterns and climates using marine geologic records to reconstruct ocean-atmosphere variability over geologic time and how those changes appear in sedimentary and geochemical archives.

12) Are projects that connect land and offshore processes appropriate?

Yes. The program highlights interactions between continental and marine geologic processes, including linkages among river systems, coastal dynamics, tectonics, sea-level change, and offshore sedimentary systems.

13) What does "source-to-sink" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description, it refers to studies that track sediment and chemical fluxes from continents to the deep sea, examining how continental inputs move through and shape offshore systems.

14) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to applicant types), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications provided in the full program text.

16) When was this opportunity originally posted?

The opportunity was originally posted on March 13, 2015.

17) What are the key closing dates mentioned?

The information provided lists an original closing date of August 15, 2015 and a later listed closing date of February 16, 2016.

18) When is the opportunity scheduled to be archived?

It is scheduled for archiving on September 14, 2025.

19) Where should applicants look for the full, official details?

A program description link is referenced for applicants seeking the full, official details. The full program text may also include additional eligibility clarifications beyond the summarized information.

20) Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement via Grants.gov?

The provided support contact for Grants.gov access issues is grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.