Monitoring Glacier Change in Alaska¿s National Parks | P20AS00053

Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00053

The grant opportunity titled "Monitoring Glacier Change in Alaska's National Parks" (Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00053) is a National Park Service effort under the U.S. Department of the Interior to strengthen how glaciers are tracked across Alaska's national parks. The overall aim is to build a clear, repeatable picture of glacier condition and change over time by measuring key indicators such as glacier surface elevation and area, then using those measurements to estimate trends like thinning, thickening, retreat, or advance. The project also allows for extra attention to glaciers that are considered especially important or high interest to the parks.

The work is organized around three main objectives. First, it calls for updating an existing long-term record of glacier surface elevations using aircraft-based laser altimetry. In practical terms, this means collecting new airborne elevation measurements over a selected set of park glaciers and adding them to prior datasets so modern rates of change can be calculated and compared across years. Second, it emphasizes building and formalizing a method to bring satellite-derived glacier elevation data into routine monitoring, with a strong focus on leveraging ICESat-2 measurements. This part is about creating a documented workflow that can be repeated in the future, including how satellite observations are processed, validated, and integrated with other elevation records so the monitoring program can continue efficiently and consistently. Third, the project requires clear reporting and data delivery: the recipient must provide electronically archived datasets with complete metadata, a technical report that explains the methods and discusses results, and an internal whitepaper that captures best practices for future glacier monitoring so the approach can be carried forward by the parks and partners.

Administratively, this is a discretionary opportunity funded through a cooperative agreement, categorized under environment, information/statistics, and natural resources, and listed under CFDA 15.945. The funding ceiling is $130,000, with one expected award. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the notice specifies it is a notice of intent to award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks; as a result, applications are not accepted from any other organization. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2020, with an original closing date of April 12, 2020, reflecting that it is essentially a directed award intended to support a specific partner in producing updated glacier-elevation time series, a satellite-integration methodology centered on ICESat-2, and well-archived deliverables that the National Park Service can use for ongoing glacier-change assessment in Alaska.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring Glacier Change in Alaska¿s National Parks" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 12, 2020 This is a notice of intent to award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Applications will not be accepted from any other entity.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $130,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for P20AS00053

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