Our Good Earth

The future rests on the soil beneath our feet

National Geographic Magazine

Surface Earth ScienceSurface Earth Science

An NSF PerspectiveAn NSF Perspective

SoilCritZone WorkshopSoilCritZone Workshop

Sept. 5-8, 2008 Sept. 5-8, 2008 Chania CreteChania Crete

NSB

IG

OPP

OCI

OISE

Geosciences

Engineering

Math and Physical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Computer and Info. Science & Eng.

Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences

Education and Human Resources

NSF DirectorDeputy Director

OIA

Division ofEarth Sciences

Division ofEarth SciencesDivision of

Atmospheric Sciences

Division ofAtmospheric

Sciences

Division ofOcean

Sciences

Division ofOcean

Sciences

SEPSEP

DEPDEP

We are here

Surface Earth Processes Section (SEPS)

Jun Abrajano, Section Head

Surface Earth Processes Section (SEPS)

Jun Abrajano, Section Head

Geobiology & Low Temp Geochem (GG)

Enriqueta Barrera, Program DirectorSteve Macko, Program Director

Geobiology & Low Temp Geochem (GG)

Enriqueta Barrera, Program DirectorSteve Macko, Program Director

Sedimentary Geology & Paleobiology (SGP) Rich Lane, Program Director

Paul Filmer, Program Director (50%)Ray Bernor, Program Director

Sedimentary Geology & Paleobiology (SGP) Rich Lane, Program Director

Paul Filmer, Program Director (50%)Ray Bernor, Program Director

Geomorphology & Land Use Dynamics (GLD)

Richard YuretichMichael Ellis

Geomorphology & Land Use Dynamics (GLD)

Richard YuretichMichael Ellis

Hydrological Sciences (HS)Douglas James, Program DirectorRichard Cuenca, Program Director

Hydrological Sciences (HS)Douglas James, Program DirectorRichard Cuenca, Program Director

Education & Human Resources (EHR)

Lina Patino, Program Director

Education & Human Resources (EHR)

Lina Patino, Program Director

HIS: Hydrological Information System

NEON and LTER: National Ecological Observatory Network and Long Term Ecological Research

CUAHSITestbeds

Other Water Cycle and Climate Initiatives

WATERS Network

NCED: National Center forEarth-Surface Dynamics

CZO: Critical Zone Observatories

ETBC: Emerging Trends in Biogeochemical Cycle

SAHRA: Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas

CSDMS: Community Surface Dynamics Modeling Systems

P2C2: Paleo-Perspectives on Climate Change

CZEN: Critical Zone Exploration Network

Crosscutting Programs

Era of OBSERVATORY Earth Science

NEON and LTERCUAHSI Testbeds

WATERS Network

CZO: Critical Zone Observatories

OOI: Ocean Observatory Initiative

EARTHSCOPE

CZEN

What?

• Platforms for studying the environment and fundamental processes within it in real time (hours, seasons, years, decades) at large scales.

• It includes suites of instruments and sensors, power supplies, data storage capability, and other associated cyberinfrastructure.

• “We are not alone.” Numerous related observatories and observing systems including LTERs, NEON sites, and non-NSF observatories.

Why?• “Business-as-usual” field studies are not suited for

detecting long-term trends and abrupt or extreme events.

• Alternative time-continuous remote observations are only “skin deep”, and fail to capture the three dimensional complexity of critical zone.

• Simultaneous observations are required to discern interconnected processes (atm-hyd-pedosphere).

• There are serious limitations to our present ability to “scale up” small-scale process and observations.

• If suitably networked, observatories can aid in understanding regional, continental, and global patterns.

• Compatible scale of societal decisions and policies.

Era of OBSERVATORY Earth Science

NEON and LTERCUAHSI Testbeds

WATERS Network

CZO: Critical Zone Observatories

OOI: Ocean Observatory Initiative

EARTHSCOPE

CZEN

What is an MREFC? • MREFC = NSF acronym for “Major Research Equipment

and Facility Construction”– each MREFC project typically has $80 to $400 million in

construction costs over 3-4 years

• NSF budget has “several compartments,” including:– R&RA ~$4.8 billion (research)– EHR ~$725 million (education)– MREFC ~$220 million (“capital projects”)– Other ~$250 million (NSF operations, OIG, NSB)

– Total ~$6 billion (FY 2008 estimate)

Alternatives to MREFC

• New major initiatives, often community driven, can be advanced through non-MREFC route (e.g., Critical Zone Observatory).

• Initiatives must be scientifically compelling, and it is advantageous if it is disciplinarily- broad and societally-relevant

• The scale of funding is likely much smaller, but the impact need not be

CZO: A child of multiple mothers

HYDROLOGICALSciences

Land SurfaceDYNAMICS

SOILScience

SedimentaryGeology

CZO

NEON, LTER

• Sierra Nevada - University of California (principally at Merced) • Front Range of the Colorado Rockies - University of Colorado at Boulder • Appalachian Uplands - Pennsylvania State University

Separate but connected – A National Critical Zone Agenda

Critical Zone Observatories: An “Adaptive” Approach

• Diverse geology, climate,

research issues

• Shared site access, data

format/technology

• Coordinated research/

educ/ outreach programs

• Single national steering

committee

Observatory Future:

• Longer-term Vision for CZO: time-space, links to other observatories

• Holistic and coupled surface systems: atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere

• Attention to data integration, modeling

• Nexus of basic science and societal needs

Other Notable Initiatives:• National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics (NCED)

• Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA)

• Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrological Sciences (CUAHSI) + Synthesis Centers • Hydrological Information System (HIS)

• Paleo Perspectives in Climate Change (P2C2)

• Emerging Topics in Biogeochemical Cycles (ETBC)

• Community Surface Dynamics Modeling Systems (CSMDS)