NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

A -- EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE PATHFINDER (ESSP) SOL ESSP-AO POC Michael J Crison, Formulation Manager, Phone (202) 358-4718, Fax (202) 358-2769, Email mcrison@mail.hq.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=04#ESSP-AO. E-MAIL: Michael J Crison, mcrison@mail.hq.nasa.gov. Dear Colleague: Plans for the third Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) are being formulated within the Office of Earth Science at NASA Headquarters. Currently, the following programmatic milestones have tentatively been established: AO release early October 2000 Pre-proposal Conference mid October 2000 Notices of Intent due late October 2000 Step-One Proposals due mid November 2000 Announcement of Step-One ratings mid January 2001 Step-Two Proposals due mid May 2001 Announcement of Step-Two selections mid August 2001 Once again, the ESSP AO will solicit proposals for at least two primary missions. Mission cost caps are currently being determined. NASA will focus the AO on the following science questions: a) How do ecosystems respond to environmental change and affect the global carbon cycle? Purpose: Understand the processes that control cycling of carbon and nutrients through Earth's carbon cycle. b) Is the global water cycle accelerating? Purpose: Understand processes that control transport, storage, and exchange of fresh water between Earth's atmosphere, land, oceans, and polar regions. c) What trends in atmospheric constituents and solar radiation are driving global climate? d) What are the effects of regional pollution on the global atmosphere, and the effects of global chemical and climate changes on regional air quality? Purpose: Understand physical and dynamical processes that control and regulate the chemistry and exchange of mass and energy between Earth's troposphere and stratosphere. e) How is the Earth surface being transformed, and how can this information be used to predict future changes? Purpose: Understand the geophysical and dynamical processes that contribute to deformation of the Earth surface, resulting in earthquakes, land slides, and other tectonic activities. The solicitation will primarily encourage proposals that address the scientific area of focus identified above. We will consider other scientifically compelling proposals beyond theareas of focus. However, in Step-One proposals must provide a clear and concise justification to convey their significance as they relate to the scientific priorities identified above. I look forward to your participation in the next NASA Earth Science Announcement of Opportunity and thank you for your interest in the program. You can stay informed of ESSP activities and access the upcoming Announcement of Opportunity by visiting the ESSP homepage at http://essp.gsfc.nasa.gov/ . Please contact Michael Crison at (202) 358-4718 or by e-mail at mcrison@hq.nasa.gov if you have any further questions. Sincerely, Ghassem R. Asrar Associate Administrator for Earth Science Posted 08/17/00 (D-SN487222). (0230)

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