Opportunities for Research in the Opportunities for Research in the Dynamics of Water Processes in the Dynamics of Water Processes in the

Environment at NSFEnvironment at NSF

Pam StephensPam Stephens Directorate of Geosciences, NSFDirectorate of Geosciences, NSF

Dynamics of Water Processes in the EnvironmentDynamics of Water Processes in the Environment EPSCOR Workshop, Burlington, VT EPSCOR Workshop, Burlington, VT

November 10, 2008November 10, 2008

OutlineOutline

Why a focus on water research?Why a focus on water research? What are the key issues in water research from What are the key issues in water research from

the NSF perspective? the NSF perspective? What parts of NSF are involved?What parts of NSF are involved? Challenges in water researchChallenges in water research Interagency opportunitiesInteragency opportunities Examples of water opportunities in several Examples of water opportunities in several

divisionsdivisions Some advice for new researchersSome advice for new researchers

The Importance of WaterThe Importance of Water

Meeting human and ecosystem needs for water Meeting human and ecosystem needs for water is a major challenge for the 21is a major challenge for the 21stst Century Century

Water is pervasive in our lives – agriculture, Water is pervasive in our lives – agriculture, energy production, transportation, energy production, transportation, manufacturing, waste management, recreationmanufacturing, waste management, recreation

Global issues of food security, human health, Global issues of food security, human health, environmental quality, and economic prosperityenvironmental quality, and economic prosperity

Current Support for Water Current Support for Water

NSF supports about $140M in NSF supports about $140M in disciplinarydisciplinary studies related to freshwater.studies related to freshwater.

The science covers the physical, chemical, The science covers the physical, chemical, geological, biological and human processes in geological, biological and human processes in the natural and built environmentsthe natural and built environments

NSF also supports some NSF also supports some cross-disciplinarycross-disciplinary activities, formally and informally – CNH, ETBCactivities, formally and informally – CNH, ETBC

Challenges in Water ResearchChallenges in Water Research Changes in land use patterns, climate, and Changes in land use patterns, climate, and

demographics and rising economic expectationsdemographics and rising economic expectations

The Earth’s water system is complex – e.g., the fate of The Earth’s water system is complex – e.g., the fate of water is intimately tied to vegetation and the water is intimately tied to vegetation and the geomorphology of the surface and subsurfacegeomorphology of the surface and subsurface

““Natural” water systems scarcely exist - human-Natural” water systems scarcely exist - human-engineered water systems dominateengineered water systems dominate

The dynamics of water spans many spatial and The dynamics of water spans many spatial and temporal scalestemporal scales

Water comes in three phases – and all are importantWater comes in three phases – and all are important

Research questions at the interfaces are keyResearch questions at the interfaces are key

What might be the goal for What might be the goal for expanded research efforts related expanded research efforts related

to water?to water?

To increase our To increase our understandingunderstanding of and of and our ability to our ability to predictpredict the dynamics of the the dynamics of the Earth’s water system in order to sustain Earth’s water system in order to sustain

life and promote economic prosperitylife and promote economic prosperity

What’s needed?What’s needed?

Studies that couple Studies that couple natural and humannatural and human systems systems associated with waterassociated with water

New New interdisciplinaryinterdisciplinary approaches approaches

Observational networks working at Observational networks working at multiplemultiple spatial and spatial and temporal scales temporal scales

Data Data integrationintegration and and accessaccess capabilities capabilities

Predictive water cycle models that Predictive water cycle models that linklink physical, biological, physical, biological, social and other systemssocial and other systems

Interagency EffortsInteragency Efforts

Subcommittee on Water Availability and Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ)Quality (SWAQ)

25 federal agencies with water research or water 25 federal agencies with water research or water management responsibilitiesmanagement responsibilities

SWAQ advises the Executive Office of the SWAQ advises the Executive Office of the President about Federal science and technology President about Federal science and technology to support water availability and qualityto support water availability and quality

www.ostp.gov/nstc/html/_reports.htmlwww.ostp.gov/nstc/html/_reports.html

The SWAQ ChallengesThe SWAQ Challenges

Measuring and accounting for our waterMeasuring and accounting for our water

Developing methods to expand fresh Developing methods to expand fresh water supplies while using existing water supplies while using existing supplies more efficientlysupplies more efficiently

Develop and improve predictive water Develop and improve predictive water management toolsmanagement tools

Elements of implementing the Elements of implementing the SWAQ strategic planSWAQ strategic plan

Implement a national water census Implement a national water census Develop a new generation of water monitoring Develop a new generation of water monitoring

techniquestechniques Develop and expand technologies for enhancing reliable Develop and expand technologies for enhancing reliable

water supplywater supply Develop innovative water-use technologies and tools to Develop innovative water-use technologies and tools to

enhance public acceptance of themenhance public acceptance of them Develop collaborative tools and processes for U.S. water Develop collaborative tools and processes for U.S. water

solutions solutions Improve understanding of the water-related ecosystem Improve understanding of the water-related ecosystem

services and ecosystem needs for waterservices and ecosystem needs for water Improve hydrologic prediction models and their Improve hydrologic prediction models and their

applicationsapplications

Interagency EffortsInteragency Efforts

Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)

13 federal agencies with climate change research 13 federal agencies with climate change research responsibilitiesresponsibilities

CCSP overseen by the Subcommittee on Global CCSP overseen by the Subcommittee on Global Change ResearchChange Research

Vision: A nation empowered by science-based Vision: A nation empowered by science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related of change in the climate and related environmental systems.environmental systems.

Interagency EffortsInteragency Efforts

Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)

Completing a set of assessments and preparing to do a new Completing a set of assessments and preparing to do a new strategic planstrategic plan

Likely to be more driven by adaptation and mitigation Likely to be more driven by adaptation and mitigation considerationsconsiderations

Basic research questions will be framed accordinglyBasic research questions will be framed accordingly

Water will be a major focus given prospects for sea level rise, more Water will be a major focus given prospects for sea level rise, more weather extremes, including droughts and floods, and changing weather extremes, including droughts and floods, and changing precipitation characteristics precipitation characteristics

http://www.climatescience.govhttp://www.climatescience.gov

Current CCSP Goals Current CCSP Goals [2003 Strategic Plan][2003 Strategic Plan]

1.1. Improve knowledge of climate Improve knowledge of climate and environment.and environment.

2.2. Improve quantification of forces Improve quantification of forces driving changes to climate.driving changes to climate.

3.3. Reduce uncertainty in Reduce uncertainty in projections of future climate projections of future climate change.change.

4.4. Understand sensitivity and Understand sensitivity and adaptability of natural and adaptability of natural and manmade systems.manmade systems.

5.5. Explore uses and limits of Explore uses and limits of managing risks and managing risks and opportunities.opportunities.

www.climatescience.gov/Library/stratplan2003/

CCSP Interagency Working GroupsCCSP Interagency Working Groups

• Atmospheric CompositionAtmospheric Composition• Climate Variability and Climate Variability and

ChangeChange• ModelingModeling

• Global Water CycleGlobal Water Cycle• Land Use and Land Land Use and Land

Cover ChangeCover Change• Global Carbon CycleGlobal Carbon Cycle• EcosystemsEcosystems Human Contributions and Human Contributions and

ResponsesResponses

• Observing and Monitoring Observing and Monitoring the Climate Systemthe Climate System

• Data Management Data Management and Informationand Information

• CommunicationsCommunications• International Research International Research

and Cooperationand Cooperation• EducationEducation

Engineering Directorate Engineering Directorate Programs supporting water researchPrograms supporting water research

Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability Systems level analysis, impact of climate change and Systems level analysis, impact of climate change and

land use on water resources land use on water resources

Environmental EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering New technologies and processes related to waterNew technologies and processes related to water

Environmental Implications of Emerging Environmental Implications of Emerging Technologies ProgramTechnologies Program Effects of nanomaterials on water quality and Effects of nanomaterials on water quality and

environmental healthenvironmental health

Division of Atmospheric SciencesDivision of Atmospheric Sciences

Several programs focused on various Several programs focused on various aspects of weather and climate researchaspects of weather and climate research

Joint projects with the Division of Ocean Joint projects with the Division of Ocean SciencesSciences

NCAR NCAR Variety of community models available for useVariety of community models available for use Observing systems – ground-based and two Observing systems – ground-based and two

research airborne platforms – for field studiesresearch airborne platforms – for field studies Collaborations with the communityCollaborations with the community

The NOAH Land Surface ModelThe NOAH Land Surface Modelhttp://www.ral.ucar.edu/research/land/technology/lsm.phphttp://www.ral.ucar.edu/research/land/technology/lsm.php

Natural surface

Urban canopy model: Man-made surface Coupled through ‘urban fraction’

The NCAR-based Community Land Model (CLM)

Information and code freely available at: http://www.ccsm.ucar.edu/working_groups/Land/

• 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.

Considerations for newer Considerations for newer researchersresearchers

NSF deals primarily with NSF deals primarily with unsolicitedunsolicited proposals proposals Partnerships can strengthen proposalsPartnerships can strengthen proposals Interdisciplinary approaches to complex Interdisciplinary approaches to complex

problemsproblems Keep proposal goals realisticKeep proposal goals realistic Broader impacts are importantBroader impacts are important Seek advice Seek advice Check the NSF website as a resourceCheck the NSF website as a resource