Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR OWAQ 2018 2005521
The FY 2018 Remote Sensing for Snowpack and Soil Moisture opportunity is a NOAA research and development grant aimed at improving how remotely sensed snowpack and soil moisture information is used in operational water prediction. Issued by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR), specifically the Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ), it focuses on work that can directly strengthen the National Water Model (NWM) and support the mission needs of NOAA's National Water Center over a relatively near-term window of about 1 to 2 years. In practice, the opportunity is looking for applied R&D that moves beyond basic studies and has a clear path to improving model performance or operational decision support through better use of remote sensing data.
The core technical emphasis is on two hydrologic variables that strongly influence water availability and flood risk: snowpack, particularly snow water equivalent (SWE), and soil moisture. Snowpack governs how much water is stored in the landscape during winter and how that storage turns into runoff during melt periods, while soil moisture affects infiltration, runoff generation, evapotranspiration, drought development, and flash flood susceptibility. Because these variables are difficult to observe comprehensively with ground networks alone, the opportunity prioritizes approaches that leverage remote sensing products, and then translate those products into measurable improvements in the NWM. A strong proposal under this announcement would typically make a convincing case that new data assimilation methods, bias correction, product blending, downscaling, uncertainty characterization, or evaluation frameworks will produce practical improvements in the model's hydrologic states and forecasts.
Administratively, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which usually signals an expectation of meaningful involvement and coordination with NOAA staff during the project period. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with an activity category centered on environment, natural resources, and science and technology R&D. The CFDA number listed is 11.459. The announcement was created on February 22, 2018, and the original application deadline was April 26, 2018, indicating it was a time-limited competition for that fiscal year.
In terms of scale, the maximum funding amount per award (award ceiling) is $400,000, and NOAA anticipated making up to 15 awards. That combination suggests NOAA was looking to fund multiple teams or approaches in parallel, likely to explore different sensors, regions, algorithms, or integration strategies, while keeping each project focused and deliverable within the 1 to 2 year timeframe. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with further clarification referenced in an additional eligibility text field, which generally implies eligibility may extend beyond traditional federal or state agencies and could include universities, nonprofits, private entities, or other qualified organizations depending on the specific eligibility language in the full notice.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an applied remote sensing and hydrologic modeling initiative: bring in better observations of SWE and soil moisture from remote platforms, rigorously evaluate and refine those data products for hydrologic use, and demonstrate concrete improvements to the National Water Model that align with NOAA's operational water prediction priorities. The emphasis on direct contribution to the National Water Center mission and the short performance window underscores the practical, transition-to-operations mindset behind the solicitation.Apply for NOAA OAR OWAQ 2018 2005521
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2018 Remote Sensing for Snowpack and Soil Moisture" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.459.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 26, 2018. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: FY 2018 Remote Sensing for Snowpack and Soil Moisture (NOAA)
What is the FY 2018 Remote Sensing for Snowpack and Soil Moisture opportunity?
It is a NOAA research and development grant focused on improving how remotely sensed snowpack and soil moisture information is used in operational water prediction, with an emphasis on near-term, practical outcomes.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), within NOAA's Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR), specifically the Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ).
What is the main goal of the project work funded under this opportunity?
The main goal is to strengthen operational water prediction by improving the use of remote sensing data for snowpack (especially snow water equivalent, SWE) and soil moisture in ways that can measurably improve the National Water Model (NWM) and support NOAA's National Water Center mission needs.
Is this more basic research or applied work?
This opportunity emphasizes applied research and development. It is looking for work that moves beyond basic studies and has a clear path to improving model performance or operational decision support through better use of remote sensing products.
What operational system is this opportunity aiming to improve?
The solicitation is oriented around producing direct, measurable improvements to the National Water Model (NWM) and supporting the mission needs of NOAA's National Water Center.
Which hydrologic variables are the core technical focus?
The technical emphasis is on snowpack (particularly snow water equivalent, SWE) and soil moisture, because both strongly influence water availability and flood risk and are difficult to observe comprehensively using ground networks alone.
Why is snow water equivalent (SWE) a priority in this opportunity?
SWE is highlighted because snowpack governs how much water is stored in the landscape during winter and how that stored water turns into runoff during melt periods, making it highly relevant for water supply and flood-related forecasting.
Why is soil moisture a priority in this opportunity?
Soil moisture influences infiltration, runoff generation, evapotranspiration, drought development, and flash flood susceptibility, so improving soil moisture representation can have major downstream benefits for hydrologic states and forecasts.
What kinds of technical approaches are encouraged?
Examples of approaches called out include data assimilation methods, bias correction, product blending, downscaling, uncertainty characterization, and evaluation frameworks, as long as they translate remote sensing products into measurable improvements in the NWM.
Does the opportunity require a clear transition path to operations?
Yes. The description stresses a practical, transition-to-operations mindset and a focus on work that can contribute directly to the National Water Center mission over a relatively near-term window.
How long is the expected performance window for the work?
The solicitation describes a near-term window of about 1 to 2 years for producing results that can directly strengthen the National Water Model and support operational priorities.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally signals expectations for meaningful involvement and coordination with NOAA staff during the project period.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the description provided, it indicates NOAA anticipates active coordination with awardees during the project period rather than a purely hands-off grant relationship.
Is this discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is centered on environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 11.459.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on February 22, 2018.
What was the application deadline for this FY 2018 competition?
The original application deadline was April 26, 2018, indicating this was a time-limited competition for that fiscal year.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling (maximum amount per award) is $400,000.
How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making up to 15 awards.
What does the combination of a $400,000 award ceiling and up to 15 awards suggest about NOAA's intent?
It suggests NOAA aimed to fund multiple teams or approaches in parallel (potentially across different sensors, regions, algorithms, or integration strategies) while keeping individual projects focused and deliverable within the 1 to 2 year timeframe.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in an eligibility text field. This typically implies eligibility could extend beyond traditional government entities and may include universities, nonprofits, private entities, or other qualified organizations depending on the specific eligibility language in the full notice.
Is remote sensing central to this opportunity?
Yes. The solicitation prioritizes leveraging remote sensing products for snowpack and soil moisture and then translating those products into improvements in hydrologic modeling and forecasting, particularly within the National Water Model.
What kinds of outcomes would a strong proposal be expected to demonstrate?
A strong proposal would typically present a convincing case that the proposed methods (such as assimilation, bias correction, blending, downscaling, uncertainty characterization, or evaluation) will yield practical and measurable improvements to NWM hydrologic states and forecasts, aligned with NOAA National Water Center mission needs.
What is the overall theme of this grant opportunity in plain terms?
It is an applied remote sensing and hydrologic modeling initiative: improve observations of SWE and soil moisture from remote platforms, refine those data products for hydrologic use, and demonstrate concrete improvements to the National Water Model that matter for NOAA's operational water prediction priorities.
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