Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions | 18 544

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.

• 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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