Post on 30-Dec-2015
Our Good Earth
The future rests on the soil beneath our feet
National Geographic Magazine
Surface Earth ScienceSurface Earth Science
An NSF PerspectiveAn NSF Perspective
SoilCritZone WorkshopSoilCritZone Workshop
Sept. 5-8, 2008 Sept. 5-8, 2008 Chania CreteChania Crete
NSB
IG
OPP
OCI
OISE
Geosciences
Engineering
Math and Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Computer and Info. Science & Eng.
Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences
Education and Human Resources
NSF DirectorDeputy Director
OIA
Division ofEarth Sciences
Division ofEarth SciencesDivision of
Atmospheric Sciences
Division ofAtmospheric
Sciences
Division ofOcean
Sciences
Division ofOcean
Sciences
SEPSEP
DEPDEP
We are here
Surface Earth Processes Section (SEPS)
Jun Abrajano, Section Head
Surface Earth Processes Section (SEPS)
Jun Abrajano, Section Head
Geobiology & Low Temp Geochem (GG)
Enriqueta Barrera, Program DirectorSteve Macko, Program Director
Geobiology & Low Temp Geochem (GG)
Enriqueta Barrera, Program DirectorSteve Macko, Program Director
Sedimentary Geology & Paleobiology (SGP) Rich Lane, Program Director
Paul Filmer, Program Director (50%)Ray Bernor, Program Director
Sedimentary Geology & Paleobiology (SGP) Rich Lane, Program Director
Paul Filmer, Program Director (50%)Ray Bernor, Program Director
Geomorphology & Land Use Dynamics (GLD)
Richard YuretichMichael Ellis
Geomorphology & Land Use Dynamics (GLD)
Richard YuretichMichael Ellis
Hydrological Sciences (HS)Douglas James, Program DirectorRichard Cuenca, Program Director
Hydrological Sciences (HS)Douglas James, Program DirectorRichard Cuenca, Program Director
Education & Human Resources (EHR)
Lina Patino, Program Director
Education & Human Resources (EHR)
Lina Patino, Program Director
HIS: Hydrological Information System
NEON and LTER: National Ecological Observatory Network and Long Term Ecological Research
CUAHSITestbeds
Other Water Cycle and Climate Initiatives
WATERS Network
NCED: National Center forEarth-Surface Dynamics
CZO: Critical Zone Observatories
ETBC: Emerging Trends in Biogeochemical Cycle
SAHRA: Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas
CSDMS: Community Surface Dynamics Modeling Systems
P2C2: Paleo-Perspectives on Climate Change
CZEN: Critical Zone Exploration Network
Crosscutting Programs
Era of OBSERVATORY Earth Science
NEON and LTERCUAHSI Testbeds
WATERS Network
CZO: Critical Zone Observatories
OOI: Ocean Observatory Initiative
EARTHSCOPE
CZEN
What?
• Platforms for studying the environment and fundamental processes within it in real time (hours, seasons, years, decades) at large scales.
• It includes suites of instruments and sensors, power supplies, data storage capability, and other associated cyberinfrastructure.
• “We are not alone.” Numerous related observatories and observing systems including LTERs, NEON sites, and non-NSF observatories.
Why?• “Business-as-usual” field studies are not suited for
detecting long-term trends and abrupt or extreme events.
• Alternative time-continuous remote observations are only “skin deep”, and fail to capture the three dimensional complexity of critical zone.
• Simultaneous observations are required to discern interconnected processes (atm-hyd-pedosphere).
• There are serious limitations to our present ability to “scale up” small-scale process and observations.
• If suitably networked, observatories can aid in understanding regional, continental, and global patterns.
• Compatible scale of societal decisions and policies.
Era of OBSERVATORY Earth Science
NEON and LTERCUAHSI Testbeds
WATERS Network
CZO: Critical Zone Observatories
OOI: Ocean Observatory Initiative
EARTHSCOPE
CZEN
What is an MREFC? • MREFC = NSF acronym for “Major Research Equipment
and Facility Construction”– each MREFC project typically has $80 to $400 million in
construction costs over 3-4 years
• NSF budget has “several compartments,” including:– R&RA ~$4.8 billion (research)– EHR ~$725 million (education)– MREFC ~$220 million (“capital projects”)– Other ~$250 million (NSF operations, OIG, NSB)
– Total ~$6 billion (FY 2008 estimate)
Alternatives to MREFC
• New major initiatives, often community driven, can be advanced through non-MREFC route (e.g., Critical Zone Observatory).
• Initiatives must be scientifically compelling, and it is advantageous if it is disciplinarily- broad and societally-relevant
• The scale of funding is likely much smaller, but the impact need not be
CZO: A child of multiple mothers
HYDROLOGICALSciences
Land SurfaceDYNAMICS
SOILScience
SedimentaryGeology
CZO
NEON, LTER
• Sierra Nevada - University of California (principally at Merced) • Front Range of the Colorado Rockies - University of Colorado at Boulder • Appalachian Uplands - Pennsylvania State University
Separate but connected – A National Critical Zone Agenda
Critical Zone Observatories: An “Adaptive” Approach
• Diverse geology, climate,
research issues
• Shared site access, data
format/technology
• Coordinated research/
educ/ outreach programs
• Single national steering
committee
Observatory Future:
• Longer-term Vision for CZO: time-space, links to other observatories
• Holistic and coupled surface systems: atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere
• Attention to data integration, modeling
• Nexus of basic science and societal needs
Other Notable Initiatives:• National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics (NCED)
• Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA)
• Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrological Sciences (CUAHSI) + Synthesis Centers • Hydrological Information System (HIS)
• Paleo Perspectives in Climate Change (P2C2)
• Emerging Topics in Biogeochemical Cycles (ETBC)
• Community Surface Dynamics Modeling Systems (CSMDS)