Strategic Guidance for the National Science Foundation's Support of the Atmospheric Sciences (2007) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 7-13
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From page 7... ...
The past 50 years have brought impressive advances in our understanding of all of these processes and in our ability to anticipate and prepare for them. Yet, the imperative to advance atmospheric science is more important than ever, especially in the face of changing environmental conditions and even greater societal demand for relevant information and services.
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From page 8... ...
In this report we review the record of ATM activities and the advances they have enabled, assess the current state of NSF-sponsored atmospheric science programs, and discuss actions that we hope will help aid future ATM investments to strengthen our science and enhance its ability to address the atmospherically related problems facing humanity. ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION The fact that Earth's atmosphere is by and large beyond our experimental control fundamentally shapes how atmospheric research is conducted.
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From page 9... ...
. Over the past six years, ATM has devoted about 30 percent of its budget to supporting the Lower Atmospheric Research Section, 16 percent to the Upper Atmospheric Research Section, 42 percent to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and Lower Atmospheric Facilities Oversight Section, and the remaining 12 percent to other activities (including Science and Technology Centers, cross-directorate funding, special activities within GEO, and the divisionwide account for midsize infrastructure)
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From page 10... ...
NOAA has funded projects with specific missions directed at climate and weather products and services, such as acquiring data to be used in numerical forecast models, to develop and improve weather forecasting models and techniques, and has developed and maintained networks of observing systems in support of them. fig 1-1 NSF's primary role of funding basic research in the atmospheric sciences is very important.
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From page 11... ...
. In reviewing several case studies of technological and applications developments, the authors of that report note that: What was most significant, however, was that all applications depended vitally, critically, on a long history of basic research, a substantial part of which was non-mission, uncommitted research.
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From page 12... ...
How and why tornadoes or El Niño conditions form must be well known before one can reliably tackle the applied problems of improving warnings or forecasts of them. While applied research can sometimes lead to basic discoveries, in many instances basic research is a prerequisite for successful applied research.
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From page 13... ...
an interim report was released with the intent to solicit additional community input at subsequent town halls. The committee discussed and considered these comments as part of its deliberative process before drawing its final conclusions.
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