NASA/Headquarters Acquisition Division, Code CW, 300E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546

A -- BOREAL ECOSYSTEM-ATMOSPHERE STUDY (BOREAS) GUEST INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TERRESTRIAL, ECOLOGY PROGRAM (TEP), NRA-97-MTPE-08 SOL NRA-97-MTPE-08 DUE 071697 POC Diane E. Wickland, Manager, Terrestrial Ecology Program, Phone (202) 358-0245, Fax (202) 358-2771, Email diane.wickland@hq.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/HQ/date.html#NRA-97-MTPE-08. E-MAIL: Diane E. Wickland, diane.wickland@hq.nasa.gov. Solicitation release date June 11, 1997 Step 1 proposals for BOREAS due July 16, 1997 Proposals for TEP due no later than September 30, 1997 The NRA will be posted in full on the release date of June 11, 1997. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces the solicitation of 1) proposals for research to utilize the data collected under the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) as part of a BOREAS Guest Investigator Program and 2) proposals for research to be conducted as part of the Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) core science program in Terrestrial Ecology. Proposals for research that exploits the BOREAS data set are solicited under the BOREAS Guest Investigator program to address the following general scientific issues: 1) the sensitivity of the boreal forest biome to global change, 2) the carbon cycle, biogeochemistry, and ecological functioning of the boreal forest biome, and 3) ecosystem feedbacks to global change. Proposals are solicited to address the key BOREAS objectives of 1) improving process models that describe the exchanges of radiative energy, water, heat, carbon, and trace constituents between the boreal forest biome and the atmosphere and 2) developing methods for applying the process models over large spatial scales using remote sensing and other integrative techniques. Research activities of interest include intercomparison of data sets, evaluation of BOREAS data products, remote sensing algorithm development and/or improvement, development of new remote sensing data products, and extension of results to regions of boreal forest beyond the BOREAS study region. Proposals should emphasize integration and synthesis of results using existing data sets. Preference will given to proposals that focus on whole system synthesis, that employ innovative analytical approaches combining data sets from multiple sources and/or linking across spatial and temporal scales, and that have the greatest potential for further advancing our understanding of boreal forest biome -- atmosphere interactions. Proposals for research under the Terrestrial Ecology Program (TEP) are solicited to address the following topics: 1) basic research on thermal remote sensing directed toward assessment of the best ways to utilize thermal data from future satellite sensors for derivation of land surface temperature, 2) assessment of various remote sensing approaches for estimating biomass and/or other canopy structural attributes in medium-high biomass ecosystems and for identifying/quantifying secondary forest regrowth, and 3) data fusion (of microwave and optical, time series, and/or multi-scale data) approaches for improved vegetation classification. Proposals to address other topics relevant to the goal of the Terrestrial Ecology Program are welcome, but funds have not been specifically set aside for research proposals on other topics; such proposals would be considered as funds become available through normal program turnover. Participation in these programs is open to all categories of domestic and foreign organizations, including educational institutions, industry, non-profit institutions, NASA research centers, and other government agencies. This solicitation will be available electronically on the release date via the Internet at the Mission to Planet Earth Home Page: "http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/mtpe/" under "MTPE Research Announcements" or via anonymous ftp at: ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/mtpe. Paper copies of the announcement will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice-mail message. Please leave your full name and address, including zip code, and your telephone number, including area code. The BOREAS Guest Investigator Program will employ a two step proposal and evaluation process. Step 1 requires brief, summary proposals that will be reviewed and assigned specific recommendations concerning the submission of Step 2 proposals; Step 2 requires full proposals. Step 1 proposals to the BOREAS Guest Investigator Program may be submitted at any time from the release date through 4:30 pm, EDT, on July 16, 1997. Step 2 proposals for BOREAS will be due no later than 2 months following notification from NASA of the Step 1 evaluation results and recommendations. The Terrestrial Ecology Program will not employ a two step process. Full proposals to the Terrestrial Ecology Program may be submitted at any time from June 11, 1997, through 4:30 pm, EDT, on September 30, 1997. (0143)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0002 19970528\A-0002.SOL)