organizations. According to NSF’s Federal Funds Survey, overall funding in
basic Earth science fell from $555 million in 1993 to $388 million in 1997. When
corrected for inflation, this amounts to a 37% reduction in federally supported
basic research. EAR’s share of basic research rose concomitantly, from 14% in
1993 to 24% in 1997. More than ever, Earth science in the United States depends
on the ability of EAR to support research initiatives.
FIGURE 1.1 Total annual federal obligations for basic Earth science (blue lines)
and applied Earth science (red lines), compared to the annual budget of NSF’s
Earth Science Division (black lines), in as-spent dollars (dashed lines) and
constant 1997 dollars (solid lines). Since 1993, overall federal funding of Earth
science has dropped substantially. SOURCE: Federal Funds Survey.
Organization of the Report
In this report, the Committee on Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth
Sciences identifies areas of high-priority research within the purview
BASIC EARTH SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
13
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