NASA ROSES-20 Amendment 27: A.34 Studies with ICESat-2 Final Text Released

A.34 Studies with ICESat-2 solicits proposals for Earth science research using observations from the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2). The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument on ICESat-2 is a photon-counting lidar with six beams and ICESat-2’s near-polar orbit is optimized to enable the characterization of elevation changes in Earth’s polar ice. The mission also collects data globally particularly to enable determination of vegetation height, but also to support research and applications in hydrology, oceanography, and atmospheric sciences. 

Specific topics solicited in this opportunity are the following:

·         Investigations in non-polar physical oceanography, especially topography and waves that utilize the global sea surface height product (https://nsidc.org/data/ATL12).

·         Investigations of cloud processes that utilize the global clouds, cloud properties, and lidar backscatter product (https://nsidc.org/data/ATL09).

·         Investigations of local-to-regional scale ice sheet and ice shelf processes that utilize the unique capabilities of ICESat-2 to improve our understanding and assessment of the ice sheet mass balance, including ice sheet hydrology and ice shelf – ocean – sea ice interaction.

·         Investigations of sea ice and oceanic processes in the Southern Ocean.

·         Long-term monitoring of annual changes and variability of sea ice, ice sheets, and Alaskan glaciers using Operation IceBridge as the link between ICESat and ICESat-2. 

·         Investigations of ice sheet seasonal variability and its drivers in the context of improving projections.

ROSES-2020 Amendment 27 releases final text for A.34 Studies with ICESat-2. Notices of Intent are requested by September 30, 2020 and proposals are due October 30, 2020.

On or about June 2, 2020, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2020” (NNH20ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2020 and will appear on SARA’s ROSES blog at: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2020/.

Questions concerning A.34 Studies with ICESat-2 may be directed to Thorsten Markus, who may be reached atthorsten.markus@nasa.gov.