Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G17AS00015

Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00015

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00015) was offered by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, through the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis. It is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, meaning the USGS expected to be actively involved with the recipient rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The activity falls under science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 15.808). The opportunity was posted on November 17, 2016, with an original closing date of December 2, 2016, and it anticipated making a single award with a maximum federal funding level (award ceiling) of $50,000. Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement.

Programmatically, the project focus is on improving global volcanic hazards monitoring and risk reduction by organizing how satellite remote sensing data are acquired, shared, and used across existing international volcano monitoring efforts. The central idea is to bring separate programs and partners into a more coordinated framework so that satellite observations can better support hazards assessment and mitigation. Rather than funding a single sensor or a single volcano study, the opportunity emphasizes building connections among programs, aligning priorities, and creating a workable system for turning Earth observation data into timely, actionable information for volcanic crisis management.

The specific objectives outlined in the announcement include three major pieces. First, the project aims to coordinate current volcano monitoring programs into a unified database system, which implies improving data interoperability, standardizing key information streams, and making it easier for different institutions to access and use each other's data. Second, it calls for developing a global plan for multi-platform Earth observation of volcanoes, recognizing that modern volcanic monitoring increasingly depends on combining many types of satellite measurements and platforms rather than relying on one mission. Third, it seeks a cross-disciplinary, cross-agency remote sensing strategy for global volcano monitoring, meaning the plan should bridge traditional divides between scientific disciplines (for example, geodesy, thermal monitoring, gas and ash detection, and radar-based deformation measurements) and between the organizations that collect data and the organizations that use it.

A major deliverable is an observing strategy that will be communicated to the international community of space agencies. In practical terms, this means the work is meant to influence how satellite data collection is prioritized and coordinated globally, not just within one U.S. program. The strategy is expected to cover both routine, background monitoring and a responsive surge capability. Background monitoring refers to steady, systematic observations that establish baseline behavior for volcanoes and allow long-term tracking, while the responsive element is a mechanism to shift satellite acquisition priorities when a volcano begins to show signs of unrest. Importantly, those signs of unrest could be detected from ground-based monitoring networks, space-based observations, or a combination of both, and the plan should account for how those signals trigger changes in tasking and analysis.

The announcement also highlights an expectation that the expanding number of satellites, often described as a growing constellation, should be used together to strengthen volcanic hazard detection and reduce risk. This includes automated detection of unrest (so that early warning signs can be flagged quickly and consistently), detailed monitoring during crises (when decision-makers need frequent, reliable updates), and robust two-way communication between data providers and end users. That two-way communication point signals that the project is not only about data supply; it is also about ensuring that the products, formats, latency, and delivery mechanisms match real operational needs for hazard assessment, aviation safety considerations, emergency management, and scientific response coordination.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 02, 2016. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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