Opportunity Information: Apply for 18 544
The Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant program focused on improving scientific understanding of Earths upper atmosphere, specifically from the middle atmosphere up through the thermosphere and ionosphere and extending into the exosphere. The central aim is to explain how these regions behave and change by studying the ways they are connected (coupling), how energy is transferred and transformed (energetics), how chemical processes shape composition and reactions (chemistry), and how motions and forces drive variability (dynamics). The program emphasizes understanding these processes at both regional and global scales, recognizing that the upper atmosphere can vary dramatically across latitude, local time, seasons, and geomagnetic conditions.
A major theme in CEDAR is that the upper atmosphere is influenced from two directions at once. From below, disturbances generated in the lower atmosphere can propagate upward, including waves and other perturbations that carry momentum and energy into higher layers. From above, the system is also driven by the Sun through radiation and by particle inputs associated with space weather, such as energetic particles and solar wind-magnetosphere interactions that feed energy into the ionosphere-thermosphere system. CEDAR supports research that clarifies how these drivers initiate changes, how those changes move through the atmosphere, and how different layers respond and interact with one another. This includes understanding why the system sometimes responds smoothly and predictably and other times becomes highly variable during geomagnetic storms or other events.
The program is intentionally broad in terms of research approach and encourages studies that bring together multiple methods. Supported work commonly integrates observations from ground-based instruments (for example, radars, optical systems, magnetometers, and other geophysical monitoring tools) with space-based measurements from satellites or other platforms. Alongside observations, CEDAR also supports theory development and numerical modeling, including efforts that connect data and models to test hypotheses, improve physical parameterizations, and build a more complete picture of the coupled atmosphere-ionosphere system. Projects can range from targeted studies of specific processes to larger efforts that compare observations and simulations across wide spatial regions or long time periods.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA number 47.050. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals may be submitted by any type of entity as long as they meet any additional eligibility details described in the full solicitation. Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis rather than having a single fixed deadline, which is helpful for teams planning around field campaigns, data availability, or coordinated modeling efforts.
Funding details indicate an award ceiling of $125,000, with an expectation of about 8 awards. In practical terms, this suggests the opportunity is geared toward focused research projects, pilot studies, method development, or targeted analyses, rather than very large multi-institution efforts, although collaboration is still possible and often valuable for coupling observations with modeling. Overall, CEDAR is designed to advance fundamental knowledge of the upper atmosphere and its drivers, with relevance to understanding space weather impacts, satellite drag variability, radio communication conditions, and other real-world effects tied to thermosphere-ionosphere dynamics.Apply for 18 544
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 01, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Proposals accepted anytime. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the CEDAR program?
CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant program that supports studies aimed at improving scientific understanding of Earths upper atmosphere, spanning from the middle atmosphere through the thermosphere and ionosphere and extending into the exosphere.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is to explain how the upper atmospheric system behaves and changes. CEDAR-funded research focuses on how upper atmospheric regions are connected (coupling), how energy is transferred and transformed (energetics), how chemical processes affect composition and reactions (chemistry), and how motions and forces drive variability (dynamics).
Which parts of Earths atmosphere does CEDAR focus on?
CEDAR focuses on the upper atmosphere, specifically from the middle atmosphere up through the thermosphere and ionosphere, and extending into the exosphere.
What does "coupling" mean in the context of CEDAR?
In CEDAR, coupling refers to the ways different atmospheric regions and layers influence each other, including how changes or disturbances in one region can propagate and affect other regions.
What types of scientific topics or processes does CEDAR emphasize?
CEDAR emphasizes research on coupling, energetics, chemistry, and dynamics, including how energy and momentum move through the atmosphere, how chemical processes shape composition and reactions, and how atmospheric motions and forces create variability across different conditions.
Does CEDAR focus on regional or global behavior of the upper atmosphere?
Both. The program emphasizes understanding processes at regional and global scales, recognizing that the upper atmosphere can vary widely across latitude, local time, seasons, and geomagnetic conditions.
What are the main drivers of variability in the upper atmosphere highlighted by CEDAR?
CEDAR highlights that the upper atmosphere is influenced from two directions simultaneously: from below via disturbances that propagate upward from the lower atmosphere, and from above via solar radiation and particle inputs associated with space weather (including energetic particles and solar wind-magnetosphere interactions).
How does the lower atmosphere influence the upper atmosphere in CEDAR-supported research?
From below, disturbances generated in the lower atmosphere can propagate upward, including waves and other perturbations that transport momentum and energy into higher atmospheric layers.
How does the Sun and space weather influence the upper atmosphere in this program?
From above, the upper atmosphere is driven by solar radiation and by particle inputs associated with space weather, such as energetic particles and solar wind-magnetosphere interactions that deliver energy into the ionosphere-thermosphere system.
What kinds of scientific questions might CEDAR proposals address?
CEDAR supports research that clarifies how lower-atmosphere and solar/space-weather drivers initiate changes, how those changes propagate through the atmosphere, and how different layers respond and interact. It also includes understanding why the system can respond smoothly and predictably at times, yet become highly variable during geomagnetic storms or other events.
What research approaches are encouraged under CEDAR?
The program is intentionally broad and encourages studies that combine multiple methods, including observations, theory development, and numerical modeling. It also supports efforts that connect data and models to test hypotheses, improve physical parameterizations, and strengthen understanding of the coupled atmosphere-ionosphere system.
What types of observational data or instruments are commonly used in CEDAR work?
CEDAR-supported work commonly integrates ground-based observations (such as radars, optical systems, magnetometers, and other geophysical monitoring tools) with space-based measurements from satellites or other platforms.
Does the program support modeling and theory, or only observations?
It supports all of these. CEDAR supports theory development and numerical modeling in addition to observational studies, including work that links models with observations to test hypotheses and improve physical parameterizations.
Are projects expected to be large, multi-institution efforts?
Based on the stated funding ceiling, the opportunity appears geared toward focused research projects, pilot studies, method development, or targeted analyses rather than very large multi-institution efforts. Collaboration is still possible and can be valuable, especially for integrating observations and modeling.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $125,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make under this opportunity?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of about 8 awards.
Is there a fixed submission deadline?
No. Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis rather than having a single fixed deadline.
Why does ongoing submission matter for research planning?
Ongoing submission can be helpful for teams planning around field campaigns, data availability, or coordinated modeling efforts, since proposals do not have to align to a single annual or one-time deadline.
What is the funding category for this opportunity?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
What is the CFDA number listed for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 47.050.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals may be submitted by any type of entity as long as they meet any additional eligibility details described in the full solicitation.
What practical or real-world relevance does CEDAR research have?
CEDAR is designed to advance fundamental knowledge with relevance to understanding space weather impacts, satellite drag variability, radio communication conditions, and other real-world effects tied to thermosphere-ionosphere dynamics.
Does the program focus on specific events like geomagnetic storms?
It includes understanding system behavior during variable conditions, including geomagnetic storms and other events, especially where the upper atmosphere becomes highly variable rather than responding smoothly and predictably.
Can a proposal focus on a specific process, or must it cover the entire system?
Projects can range from targeted studies of specific processes to larger efforts that compare observations and simulations across wide spatial regions or long time periods.
Is integrating observations and simulations encouraged?
Yes. CEDAR supports projects that connect data and models to test hypotheses, improve physical parameterizations, and build a more complete picture of the coupled atmosphere-ionosphere system.
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