Lower Atmospheric Observing Facilities (LAOF) Program Information
GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The National Science
Foundation (NSF), Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM), Lower Atmospheric
Observing Facilities (LAOF) Program consists of planning, budgeting, coordination,
and oversight of multi-user national facilities that are sponsored by
NSF for the geosciences research community. Program Management resides
within ATM in the UCAR and Lower Atmospheric Facilities Oversight Section
(ULAFOS) which provides a single point for coordination.
Geosciences research
often requires specialized facilities, instrumentation and field support
services to carry out scientific field work that is needed to understand
the complex, interdependent geophysical processes, often covering remote
areas of the globe. Making platforms and instrumentation available to
support scientific experiments depends upon adequate acquisition, operation,
maintenance, upgrading and replacement of these facilities. Also these
platforms and instruments may collect large and sometimes unique data
sets that must be validated, archived and made available to the research
community. Likewise both pre- and post-planning for scientific field programs
(e.g., experimental design, operational plans, logistical support) in
which NSF sponsored facilities are deployed is an important element of
the overall program.
As indicated in
Figure (1) a field program is a multifaceted process that requires many
phases of planning and facility utilization over relative long periods
of time. Although the Facilities Program is not directly responsible for
the science proposal grant aspects, there is significant coordination
and support required from the resources sponsored by the Facilities Program
throughout the life cycle of a scientific field project. Continual coordination
and involvement with the science community is essential by the Facility
Managers and Joint Office for Science Support in assisting the science
team members in preparing for and conducting a successful program that
utilizes NSF sponsored facilities.
FIGURE 1. (click on image for larger picture)
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the LAOF Program are to provide:
- Within ATM budget and programmatic priorities, sponsorship of a suite of multi-user observational
instrumentation and platforms for the scientific and educational needs of the geosciences community.
- Base funding requirements for the sponsored facilities and allocation of deployment
pool funding for approved facility deployments.
- Long-range facility planning and budgeting.
- Base support for pre- and post-planning field program activities.
- Coordination for interagency and international activities involving national facilities.
- Agency representation on federal committees dealing with facilities.
FACILITY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
NSF sponsored facilities
are managed and operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research
(NCAR) and select universities. The Facility Managers provide support
directly to the science community on facility needs and capabilities as
well as process their requests for use of the NSF sponsored national facilities.
UCAR JOSS management supports the science community in planning and conducting
field programs and data management. Chart 1 provides
the present points-of-contact in each organization.
ATM SPONSORED LAOF FACILITIES
Figure 2 contains
the current sponsored facilities that receive base funding support and
indicates which facilities are currently eligible for deployment pool
funding allocations. Facilities Summaries provides
a brief description of the facilities. Each of the organizations operating
and maintaining NSF sponsored national facilities has available complete
facility descriptions and procedures for requesting the facilities and
may be obtained directly from the Facility Managers.
Aircraft |
C-130Q |
NCAR/ATD |
|
|
L-188C |
|
KA B200T |
Univ. of Wyo. |
|
T-28 |
SDSMT |
|
Ground Based Systems |
ISS (4) |
NCAR/ATD |
|
|
Class (5) |
|
ASTER |
|
PAM III (3) |
|
Radars |
S-POL |
NCAR/ATD |
|
|
P3Dora (ELDORA) |
|
CHILL |
Colorado State U. |
Primary on-site at CSU (Greely) |
|
Airborne Sounding Systems |
L2D2 |
NCAR/ATD |
|
|
L0D2 |
|
GPSDS |
|
Large Airborne Instruments |
SABL |
NCAR/ATD |
Not currently in Deployment Pool
Costs for deployment are borne by requester |
|
AIMR |
|
CVI |
|
MASP |
|
95 GHz Radar |
Univ. of Wyo. |
FIGURE 2.
ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES & SERVICES
The national facilities
are available on a competitive basis to all qualified scientists requiring
facilities and services to carry out their research objectives. There
are established procedures and priorities for requesting their use. The
deployment of the facilities is driven by the scientific merit, capabilities
of the facilities to carry out the proposed observations and scheduling
of the facility for the requested time. ATM budgets annually for deployment
costs associated with these multi-user facilities, but with no specified
amount assigned to any facility. Semi-annually (Oct. & Apr.) a facility
allocation panel reviews the facility use requests and recommends allocations
of deployment funding for the facilities being requested for research
projects by the principle investigators. Normally, principle investigators
having approved NSF science research grants have first priority and receive
full deployment pool allocation funding for the facilities requested.
Other requests are considered based on scientific merit and facility availability,
with the deployment costs varying from full cost recovery to full or partial
support by the deployment pool.
Additional information may be obtained from the various facility homepages at:
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