NASA Headquarters, Code YS, Washington, DC 20546 Attn:YS/Dr. Nancy G. Maynard

A -- NASA RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT SOL NRA-96MTPE-04 POC Dr. Nancy G. Maynard tel: 202/358-2559 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to solicit proposals for scientific investigations and activities in support of NASA's MTPE and EOS to provide routine, long-term ocean color data from the various international missions launched or scheduled for launch between 1996 and 2001. The success of the Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS 1978-1986) led to seven follow-on satellite sensor missions plus several more experimental missions which are highly complementary and congruent in many important respects, but also exhibit significant differences in technical approach which have implications in algorithm and data product performance. This NRA, a special initiative called Sensor Intercomparison and Merge for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS), is designed to make best use of these scheduled missions by developing a methodology and operational capability to combine data products from the various ocean color missions in a manner that ensures the best possible global coverage and exploits best the complementary of the sensors. This NRA solicits three types of proposals: (1) sensor calibration activities, (2) data product validation activities, and (3) data merging activities. The NRA will be available electronically on the release date, via the Internet at the Mission to Planet Earth ''Home Page'' at ''http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/mtpe/'' under ''MTPE Research Announcements'' or via anonymous ftp at ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/mpte. A paper copy will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice mail message. This announcement will be open for the period from July 15, 1996 through September 30, 1996, and proposals may be submitted at any time throughout that period. (0176)

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