Preface
This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of the Committee
on Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences. The committee was
charged by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to undertake the following
tasks:
• identify high-priority research opportunities in the Earth sciences,
emphasizing the connections between traditional solid-Earth science
disciplines such as geodynamics, geology, and geochemistry and other
disciplines such as hydrology, biology, and oceanography;
• discuss research opportunities of interest to other government agencies,
industry, and international partners, to the extent that they are germane to
the responsibilities of NSF’s Earth Science Division (EAR); and
• explore linkages between research and societal needs.
In keeping with its charge, the committee did not review the existing EAR
program or other federal research programs. Rather, this report focuses on new
research areas that could be added to the EAR solid-Earth science and hydrology
portfolio. Similarly, because EAR funds are limited, the committee did not
emphasize research directions that are funded predominantly by other NSF
divisions, such as paleoceanography and marine geophysics (Ocean Sciences
Division) and paleoclimatology (Atmospheric Sciences Division and Office of
Polar Programs).
Previous National Research Council (NRC) reports have significantly helped
to shape NSF activities. Prior to 1983, EAR directed all of its funds to individual
investigators through core research programs. On the recommen
PREFACE
ix
About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the
original work has been recomposed from XML files created
from the original paper book, not from the original
typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths,
word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific
formatting, however, cannot be retained,
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative
version for attribution.
This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of the Committee
on Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences. The committee was
charged by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to undertake the following
tasks:
• identify high-priority research opportunities in the Earth sciences,
emphasizing the connections between traditional solid-Earth science
disciplines such as geodynamics, geology, and geochemistry and other
disciplines such as hydrology, biology, and oceanography;
• discuss research opportunities of interest to other government agencies,
industry, and international partners, to the extent that they are germane to
the responsibilities of NSF’s Earth Science Division (EAR); and
• explore linkages between research and societal needs.
In keeping with its charge, the committee did not review the existing EAR
program or other federal research programs. Rather, this report focuses on new
research areas that could be added to the EAR solid-Earth science and hydrology
portfolio. Similarly, because EAR funds are limited, the committee did not
emphasize research directions that are funded predominantly by other NSF
divisions, such as paleoceanography and marine geophysics (Ocean Sciences
Division) and paleoclimatology (Atmospheric Sciences Division and Office of
Polar Programs).
Previous National Research Council (NRC) reports have significantly helped
to shape NSF activities. Prior to 1983, EAR directed all of its funds to individual
investigators through core research programs. On the recommen
PREFACE
ix
About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the
original work has been recomposed from XML files created
from the original paper book, not from the original
typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths,
word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific
formatting, however, cannot be retained,
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative
version for attribution.