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Observations & Modelling of the Tropical Tropopause Layer

Announcement of Opportunity

This Announcement of Opportunity was updated on 12 May with more information about capital.

Closing date: 16:00 on 19 May 2011

In an exciting initiative with NASA and the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC), NERC invites applications for a consortium project to undertake an experimental programme of dynamical and chemical modelling, with upscaling for climate models through parametrisation development that will reduce climate uncertainties associated with Upper Troposphere - Lower Stratosphere (UTLS) processes, through a combination of measurements and models.

The project will focus on study of the chemical and physical properties of the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and the impacts of the TTL in controlling the composition of the UTLS.

The research must be delivered in partnership with NASA through collaboration with the NASA Earth Venture Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX) mission, deploying the NASA Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the NERC/Met Office FAAM BAe 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft.

The programme aims to support a central UK role in collaborative missions through investment in technology for specialist instruments, key mission forecasting capabilities and downstream data exploitation through unique UK models. The consortium project should seek to develop new observation technology that can be deployed in the TTL from UAVs.

This initiative follows on from a NERC hosted event in May 2010 to raise UK community awareness of NASA priorities and capability in next generation high altitude platforms, as well as to explore the potential benefits of such platforms for the delivery of NERC science.

Consortium proposals may request a total NERC contribution of up to £3·8m 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.

In addition to this, applicants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of an optional Technology Partnership Scheme with STFC, which will provide up to £600k in additional in-kind technology, facilities and expertise.

The closing date for proposals is 16:00 on 19 May 2011.

Please see the Announcement of Opportunity document below for full details of the call. This document was updated on 12 May with more information about capital.

Announcement of Opportunity (116KB)

For further information about this announcement of opportunity please contact:

Amy Vitale
Tel: 01793 442594