NSF Org:	OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Recipient:	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Initial Amendment Date:	July 22, 2005
Latest Amendment Date:	May 28, 2009
Award Number:	0440817
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Julie Palais OPP  Office of Polar Programs (OPP) GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2005
End Date:	July 31, 2011 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$1,934,475.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$1,934,475.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2005 = $263,432.00 FY 2006 = $262,578.00 FY 2007 = $537,184.00 FY 2008 = $548,884.00 FY 2009 = $322,397.00
History of Investigator:	Kendrick Taylor (Principal Investigator) Kendrick.Taylor@dri.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Nevada System of Higher Education, Desert Research Institute 2215 RAGGIO PKWY RENO NV  US  89512-1095 (775)673-7300
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	Nevada System of Higher Education, Desert Research Institute 2215 RAGGIO PKWY RENO NV  US  89512-1095
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	MV1JFXA4S621
Parent UEI:	MV1JFXA4S621
NSF Program(s):	ANT Glaciology, Antarctic Operations Support
Primary Program Source:	0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 9150, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	511600, 514000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.078

ABSTRACT

This award supports the coordination of an interdisciplinary and multi institutional deep ice coring program in West Antarctica. The program will develop interrelated climate, ice dynamics, and biologic records focused on understanding interactions of global earth systems. The records will have a year-by-year chronology for the most recent 40,000 years. Lower temporal resolution records will extend to 100,000 years before present. The intellectual activity of this project includes enhancing our understanding of the natural mechanisms that cause climate change. The study site was selected to obtain the best possible material, available from anywhere, to determine the role of greenhouse gas in the last series of major climate changes. The project will study the how natural changes in greenhouse gas concentrations influence climate. The influence of sea ice and atmospheric circulation on climate changes will also be investigated. Other topics that will be investigated include the influence of the West Antarctic ice sheet on changes in sea level and the biology deep in the ice sheet. The broader impacts of this project include developing information required by other science communities to improve predictions of future climate change. The
project will use mass media to explain climate, glaciology, and biology issues to a broad audience. The next generation of ice core investigators will be trained and there will be an emphasis on exposing a diverse group of students to climate, glaciology and biology research.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.