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Understanding & Predicting the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer

Announcement of Opportunity

Closing date: 16:00 on 28 October 2010

Consortium proposals are invited to deliver the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer research programme. A single consortium will be awarded to deliver the programme in its entirety; this is expected to be an integrated programme capable of making progress across the range of inter-related requirements identified and engaging with the wider UK and international communities.

This programme directly relates to the delivery of NERC strategy, in particular the climate system theme; it is also relevant to the Earth system science and technologies themes.

The overarching aim of the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer programme is:

"To build on recent UK scientific and technological advances to develop a fundamental improvement in weather and climate prediction on timescales from a few days to centuries."

In particular the goal of this programme is to develop improved parameterisations of the physical processes that control transport and exchange of heat, water and biogeochemical tracers within and across the ocean surface boundary layer.

The parameterisations must be based on fundamental physical understanding and observation, and be suitable for global predictive Earth system modelling on timescales of days to decades. Parameterisations must be implemented and their performance evaluated in global ocean and Earth system models.

A workshop was held on 26 July 2010 at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton to raise awareness of the national capability in terms of facilities, infrastructure, modelling, etc available to support research of this type.

The workshop allowed delegates to discuss science challenges and possible approaches to undertaking the research, as well as opportunities for collaboration and partnership

Attendance at the workshop is not a prerequisite for submitting a proposal.

Consortium proposals may request a total NERC contribution of up to £3·6m and be up to four years in duration. Applications must be submitted using the Research Councils' Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S). Please note that it is not necessary to submit a consortium concept note for this programme.

The closing date for proposals is 16:00 on 28 October 2010.

Please see the Announcement of Opportunity document below for full details of the call.

Announcement of Opportunity (54KB)

For further information about this announcement of opportunity please contact:

Dr Mike Webb
Tel: 01793 411520