| NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | June 2, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 29, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 1948186 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Raleigh Martin
ramartin@nsf.gov (703)292-7199 EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | June 15, 2020 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $222,477.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $222,477.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2021 = $81,064.00 FY 2022 = $72,164.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1340 ADMINISTRATION AVE FARGO ND US 58105 (701)231-8045 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
P.O. Box 6050 Fargo ND US 58108-6050 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | GEOINFORMATICS |
| Primary Program Source: |
01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This project will develop computational and data management knowledge and infrastructure to enable global-scale applications of cosmogenic-nuclide geochemistry. Cosmogenic-nuclide geochemistry is a geologic dating method that is widely used to study geologic processes active at the Earth's surface, including, for example, glacier and ice sheet change, erosion and sedimentation, tectonic deformation, and earthquake size and frequency. Cosmogenic-nuclide geochemistry does not directly measure the age of a deposit, but instead relies on geochemical properties of rocks and sediments that change over time and thus have some relation to age. Interpreting the geochemical measurements as a precise, geologically-useful age requires a series of calculations and associated data, which themselves are the subjects of active research. Thus, any synthesis of data collected in different places or at different times requires constant recalculation of ages from a growing data set of raw geochemical observations, using a continually improving method. This project focuses on developing a cyberinfrastructure system that automates calculations and makes them transparent to users interested in analysis of large data sets, and training Earth science researchers and students in how to use the system. Overall, the goal is to improve the ability of Earth science researchers to use geochronological data to study Earth surface processes.
The project will develop a transparent middle-level computational infrastructure for cosmogenic-nuclide geochronology, based on a prototype that has been successful in trial applications. The resource will automate middle-level calculations, allow continual assimilation of data and improvement of calculation methods, and allow users to focus on large-scale data analysis. This research will involve: 1. expansion and professionalization of the existing prototype, 2. support for new research and education applications that involve analysis or visualization of large data sets; and 3. engagement and training of researchers and students aimed at embedding transparent middle-level concepts and infrastructure into research workflows. Overall, the aim is to build the computational infrastructure, and the community of researchers who are able and motivated to use it, that is necessary to move the field from single, site-specific investigations toward regional and global syntheses of rapidly growing data sets. In addition, elements of this project focus on integrating Earth science research and education, including: 1. a users-as-co-developers strategy for engagement and project guidance, 2. a strategy of incorporating synoptic analysis and data visualization into undergraduate teaching resources, and 3. a program of training Earth science researchers and students in computational and geospatial skills. Integrating cyberinfrastructure development into undergraduate and graduate Earth science education will build a community of students and researchers who are better prepared to succeed in both Earth science and other fields, as well as building the capability to link small-scale field research to the broader regional- or global-scale data set of similar observations. Innovative aspects of this project may provide models for enabling scientific investigation through cyberinfrastructure development in other areas of Earth science.
This project is jointly funded by the Geoinformatics and the Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics programs in the Division of Earth Sciences, as well as the Office of Polar Programs.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Intellectual Merit
This study developed and expanded a publicly available, online database designed to support geoscience research on the Earth surface environment. The database, known as the Informal Cosmogenic Nuclide Exposure Age Database (ICE-D), consists of two components: (1) a global geochemical database for rock and sediment analyzed for cosmogenic isotopes, and (2) a user-friendly calculator that computes surface exposure ages of sediments and landforms based on chemical data. The design of ICE-D permits a community of users to contribute new and existing isotope data to the database and to access it through commonly used software for data analysis. The study included face-to-face and online workshops in which users learned how to access the database, contribute data to it, and design analytical tools for use in studies of past glaciations (ice ages) and attendant climate changes over the past 2 million years of Earth time. Outcomes of community workshops are described on a publicly available Wiki page, which new users of can follow and update as ICE-D continues to grow and evolve.
A key outcome of the study is the development of a resource that allows users to view the database through a geographic information system (GIS), such as Google Earth, QGIS, and ArcGIS. In a GIS, the database appears in a map view, allowing users to access and analyze data within a geographic area of any size. The database can be viewed in a GIS along with other information, such as topography, geology, vegetation, water, and climate, thereby permitting users to analyze multiple data types in a single environment. These types of analyses allow, for example, assessment of environmental factors on surface exposure ages.
A second key outcome of the study is the development of a complementary database for ICE-D, known as the PaleoGlacier Inventory (PGI). The PGI consists of digital representations of mountain glaciers that existed during the last glaciation in Earth history. The shape and size of the mountain glaciers is known from decades of geologic study and are represented in a GIS, where they can be viewed and analyzed along with the surface exposure ages of glacial deposits and other components of ICE-D. This PGI is a standalone database, developing with contributions from a community of students and professionals. The community is known as the Western U.S. Paleoglaciers Working Group, consisting of more than sixty academics, professionals, and students interested in studying glacier changes in the geologic past. As a publicly available, substantiated resource, the PGI is suitable for use in scientific research, development of educational materials, and the development of web apps.
Broader Impacts
All components of ICE-D and the PGI are publicly available and include instructions for interested users, available on the ICE-D Wiki page (https://wiki.ice-d.org/) and at the Western U.S. Paleoglaciers Working Group website (https://paleoglaciers.org/). The growth of a community of users throughout the duration of the study helps to ensure the longevity, growth, and adaptivity of the databases. Both ICE-D and the PGI are designed with open-science standards to maximize accessibility of the databases and to ensure its quality.
At North Dakota State University, the study supported impactful research experiences for two graduate students and five undergraduate students majoring in geology or environmental science. Graduate students published the products of their work in publicly available theses and shared the analytical tools they developed online. The study provided training subtopics of geochemistry, geologic dating methods, climate science, computer science, and data science. Students also gained valuable experience in designing apps for geographic information systems and presenting research results to the scientific community.
Last Modified: 12/29/2024
Modified by: Benjamin J Laabs
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