Download The Water Challenge

Opportunities for Research in the
Dynamics of Water Processes in the
Environment at NSF
Pam Stephens
Directorate of Geosciences, NSF
Dynamics of Water Processes in the Environment
EPSCOR Workshop, Burlington, VT
November 10, 2008
Outline
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Why a focus on water research?
What are the key issues in water research from
the NSF perspective?
What parts of NSF are involved?
Challenges in water research
Interagency opportunities
Examples of water opportunities in several
divisions
Some advice for new researchers
The Importance of Water
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Meeting human and ecosystem needs for water
is a major challenge for the 21st Century
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Water is pervasive in our lives – agriculture,
energy production, transportation,
manufacturing, waste management, recreation
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Global issues of food security, human health,
environmental quality, and economic prosperity
Current Support for Water
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NSF supports about $140M in disciplinary
studies related to freshwater.
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The science covers the physical, chemical,
geological, biological and human processes in
the natural and built environments
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NSF also supports some cross-disciplinary
activities, formally and informally – CNH, ETBC
Challenges in Water Research
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Changes in land use patterns, climate, and
demographics and rising economic expectations
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The Earth’s water system is complex – e.g., the fate
of water is intimately tied to vegetation and the
geomorphology of the surface and subsurface
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“Natural” water systems scarcely exist - humanengineered water systems dominate
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The dynamics of water spans many spatial and
temporal scales
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Water comes in three phases – and all are important
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Research questions at the interfaces are key
What might be the goal for
expanded research efforts related
to water?
To increase our understanding of and
our ability to predict the dynamics of the
Earth’s water system in order to sustain
life and promote economic prosperity
What’s needed?
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Studies that couple natural and human systems
associated with water
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New interdisciplinary approaches
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Observational networks working at multiple spatial and
temporal scales
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Data integration and access capabilities
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Predictive water cycle models that link physical,
biological, social and other systems
Interagency Efforts
Subcommittee on Water Availability and
Quality (SWAQ)
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25 federal agencies with water research or water
management responsibilities
SWAQ advises the Executive Office of the
President about Federal science and technology
to support water availability and quality
www.ostp.gov/nstc/html/_reports.html
The SWAQ Challenges
 Measuring
and accounting for our water
 Developing
methods to expand fresh
water supplies while using existing
supplies more efficiently
 Develop
and improve predictive water
management tools
Elements of implementing the
SWAQ strategic plan
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Implement a national water census
Develop a new generation of water monitoring
techniques
Develop and expand technologies for enhancing reliable
water supply
Develop innovative water-use technologies and tools to
enhance public acceptance of them
Develop collaborative tools and processes for U.S. water
solutions
Improve understanding of the water-related ecosystem
services and ecosystem needs for water
Improve hydrologic prediction models and their
applications
Interagency Efforts
Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)
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13 federal agencies with climate change research
responsibilities
CCSP overseen by the Subcommittee on Global
Change Research
Vision: A nation empowered by science-based
knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities
of change in the climate and related
environmental systems.
Interagency Efforts
Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)
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Completing a set of assessments and preparing to do a new
strategic plan
Likely to be more driven by adaptation and mitigation
considerations
Basic research questions will be framed accordingly
Water will be a major focus given prospects for sea level rise, more
weather extremes, including droughts and floods, and changing
precipitation characteristics
http://www.climatescience.gov
Current CCSP Goals [2003 Strategic Plan]
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Improve knowledge of climate
and environment.
Improve quantification of forces
driving changes to climate.
Reduce uncertainty in
projections of future climate
change.
Understand sensitivity and
adaptability of natural and
manmade systems.
Explore uses and limits of
managing risks and
opportunities.
www.climatescience.gov/Library/stratplan2003/
CCSP Interagency Working Groups
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Atmospheric Composition
Climate Variability and
Change
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Modeling
Global Water Cycle
Land Use and Land
Cover Change
Global Carbon Cycle
Ecosystems
Human Contributions and
Responses
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Observing and Monitoring
the Climate System
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Data Management
and Information
Communications
International Research
and Cooperation
Education
Engineering Directorate
Programs supporting water research
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Environmental Sustainability
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Environmental Engineering
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Systems level analysis, impact of climate change and
land use on water resources
New technologies and processes related to water
Environmental Implications of Emerging
Technologies Program
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Effects of nanomaterials on water quality and
environmental health
Division of Atmospheric Sciences
 Several
programs focused on various
aspects of weather and climate research
 Joint projects with the Division of Ocean
Sciences
 NCAR
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Variety of community models available for use
Observing systems – ground-based and two
research airborne platforms – for field studies
Collaborations with the community
The NOAH Land Surface Model
http://www.ral.ucar.edu/research/land/technology/lsm.php
Natural surface
Coupled through ‘urban fraction’
Urban canopy model:
Man-made surface
The NCAR-based Community Land Model (CLM)
• CLM is the land model for the
Community Climate System Model
• CLM can be coupled into CCSM
or run offline across a range of
resolutions and configurations
• Model components: biogeophysics, soil hydrology, snow, river
routing, biogeochemistry, dynamic vegetation, VOCs, and urban.
Information and code freely available at:
http://www.ccsm.ucar.edu/working_groups/Land/
Considerations for newer
researchers
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NSF deals primarily with unsolicited proposals
Partnerships can strengthen proposals
Interdisciplinary approaches to complex
problems
Keep proposal goals realistic
Broader impacts are important
Seek advice
Check the NSF website as a resource