Title : NSF 92-93 Fundamental Earthquake Studies of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program Type : Program Guideline NSF Org: GEO Date : August 21, 1992 File : nsf9293 ****************************************************************************** This File has been updated 10/31/96 to reflect the proper address of the: National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22230 For more information call: (703)306-1234 ****************************************************************************** FUNDAMENTAL EARTHQUAKE STUDIES OF THE NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM INTRODUCTION As part of its contribution to the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP), the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences invites research proposals directed toward basic understanding of earthquake processes. This basic understanding is the necessary foundation for the intelligent application of earthquake hazard reduction measures, which will always be resource-limited. Major developments in earthquake source theory, instrumentation, and the identification of future earthquake sites have been effective in increasing our understanding of the dynamics of the earth as well as significantly reducing earthquake hazards. However, much remains to be done. Proposals will be considered from qualified scientists in every aspect of Fundamental Earthquake Studies. This is a standing program announcement that will remain in effect until cancelled. It supersedes and cancels NSF 90-40. DESCRIPTION Fundamental Earthquake Studies support is directed towards two areas: major facilities and instrumentation, and research grants focused on specific earthquake studies. A significant increase in research capability is being developed through instrumentation and data management projects. Individual universities and the University Navstar Consortium (UNAVCO) have acquired Global Positioning System instrumentation. The Incorporated Research Institutes for Seismology (IRIS) is constructing the high capability Global Seismic Network, a large portable seismic array, and an advanced center for automated data storage/retrieval. These resources represent revolutionary strides in capability and an opportunity for major advances in earthquake research. Active tectonics techniques as diverse as trenching, tree rings, surface morphology, and coastal marsh sedimentation analysis are new powerful ways to extend the earthquake record into prehistoric times. Earthquake history is essential for scientists to calculate the hazard probability of a given fault. NSF has begun support of a new Science and Technology Center, the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), in concert with one of its NEHRP partners, the U.S. Geological Survey. This multi-institutional, regionally focussed center was fortuitously in place in time to observe the largest coterminous U.S. earthquake in 40 years, the M=7.4 Landers earthquake sequence. The close tectonic association of the Landers earthquake fault system with that of the San Andreas has increased the stress, and associated earthquake probability, along a portion of the southern San Andreas fault. Investigations of this region, especially utilizing the new resources of the SCEC, should create major advances in our understanding of an active tectonic regime. Science has yet to understand the physical processes in the earth behind a major long-term increase in California seismicity, including the 1989 M=7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake, 1992 M=6.9, 6.1, 6.5 Cape Mendocino sequence, 1992 M=6.1 Joshua Tree earthquake, and 1992 M=7.4, 6.5 Landers sequence. Equally intriguing is the explanation for the short-term triggering by the Landers earthquake of increased seismicity at several locations up to 850 km from the epicenter. Intraplate earthquakes, such as in the eastern half of the U.S., remain a major challenge in the understanding of basic earthquake processes. Significant progress has been made, but more research is needed in the orientation of fault surfaces, in details of stress orientation with time and space, in neotectonic-geological techniques on which to base statistical estimates of fault hazard, and on the fundamental causes of the earthquakes themselves. Earthquake source theory, in concert with new wide-band digital seismometers, is providing a much improved picture of earthquake source characteristics in space and time. This has application to questions of aseismic/slow fault slip, the role of asperities in earthquake ruptures, and the related questions of radiated-wave frequency content which engineers need to design earthquake-resistant structures at a specific site. The crustal structure of tectonically active areas provides clues to the location and nature of future fault ruptures. Based on new seismic instruments, more sophisticated techniques are being used for structure determination, such as tomographic inversion of teleseismic and local earthquake data, and active source investigations with large portable arrays. Direct measurement of crustal strain input by means of extraterrestrial reference frames, such as in VLBI, laser ranging to satellites, and the Global Positioning System, is providing a revolutionary capability. For the first time we can investigate previously unresolved questions concerning plate motions, aseismic slip, and the rheology of strain buildup near the locked section of a fault. Strain buildup alone can provide a direct measure of seismic hazard if enough can be learned about effective strengths and failure modes within and near the fault. Many other promising avenues of investigation have arisen. For example, investigation of the statistics of earthquake occurrence in time and space as viewed by non-linear fractal theory and by statistical pattern recognition techniques shows promise of providing better physical insight into the nature of crustal failure. The investigation of shear-wave splitting and its relation to anisotropy may be an important tool to monitor crustal stress states. Interesting discoveries have been made relating the earthquake cycle at subduction zones and the temporal- and spatial-behavior of stress in the oceanic plate. This may have important implications for determination of seismic hazard along subduction zones such as the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The Fundamental Earthquake Studies program also intends to maintain an environment that fosters unanticipated discoveries. It is probable that the next five years of the NEHRP program will see the discovery of new techniques and physical insights that will help to mitigate the hazards of earthquakes. Consequently, proposals will be considered that focus on any area of earthquake occurrence in addition to the general objectives described above. In particular, proposals will be considered for specialized field programs that investigate seismic zones in other countries in cooperation with resident scientists. Proposals will also be considered for partial or full sponsorship of conferences devoted to basic earthquake research. Persons considering submission of a proposal for field investigations in other countries or for conference support are advised to consult with NSF staff before proposal preparation. Discussions and questions concerning any aspect of proposal preparation and evaluation are encouraged. General inquiries should be made to the Geophysics Program, Room 602, Division of Earth Sciences, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC 20550, telephone (202) 357-7355. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such research and preparation of the results for publication. The Foundation, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation. The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and research-related programs described in this document. In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the National Science Foundation. Programs for Persons with Disabilities provides funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on an NSF project. A new program announcement is due late Fall; you may wish to call (202) 357-7734 to be put on the mailing list. The Foundation has TDD (Telephonic Device for the Deaf) capability, which enables individuals with hearing impairment to communicate with the Division of Personnel and Management about NSF programs, employment, or general information. The telephone number is (202) 357-7492. You can get information fast through STIS (Science and Technology Information System), NSF's on-line publishing system, described in NSF 91-10 (Revised 10/4/91), the ~STIS flyer.~ To get a paper copy of the flyer, call the NSF Publications Section at (202) 357-7861. For an electronic copy, send an e-mail message to: stisfly@nsf.gov (Internet) or stisfly@nsf(BITNET). This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Category 47.050. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines provided in the NSF brochure, Grants for Research and Education in Science and Engineering (GRESE) NSF 90-77 (or current version), and Earth Sciences Research at NSF NSF 90-20. Single copies of these brochures are available at no cost from the NSF Forms and Publications Unit, phone (202)357-7668, or via e-mail (Bitnet:pubs@nsf or Internet:pubs@note.nsf.gov). Twenty copies of each proposal, including one copy bearing original signatures, should be mailed to: Proposal Processing Unit - Room 223 Attention: EAR/PH National Science Foundation 1800 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20550-0002 Only one (1) copy of NSF Form 1225, Information about Principal Investigator/Project Director, should be sent, attached to the original signed proposal. Proposals may also be submitted electronically. For information, contact the Electronic Proposal Submission Program Director, Division of Information Systems (DIS), phone (202) 357-9767, or via e-mail, gstuck@nsf (Bitnet) or gstuck@note.nsf.gov (Internet). Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must be: (1) received by NSF no later than June 1 or December 1; or, (2) postmarked no later than five (5) days prior to the deadline date; or (3) sent via commercial overnight mail no later than two (2) days prior to the deadline date to be considered for award. Proposals submitted electronically will be dated when they are received by the NSF system. Review and processing requires approximately six months. PROPOSAL REVIEW Proposals will be reviewed in accordance with established Foundation procedures and the four general criteria described in GRESE. An additional criterion will be the potential for contribution to the general goals of the NEHRP. GRANT ADMINISTRATION Grants awarded as a result of this announcement are administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1, ~Grant General Conditions,~ or FDP-II, ~Federal Demonstration Project General Terms and Conditions,~ depending on the grantee organization. Copies of these documents are available at no cost from the NSF Forms and Publications Unit, phone (202) 357-7668, or via e-mail (Bitnet:pubs@nsf or Internet:pubs@note.nsf.gov). More comprehensive information is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (NSF 88-47, July 1989), for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. (Each grantee institution will be provided or has been provided, one copy of the Grant Policy Manual at no charge.) If the submitting institution has never received an NSF award, it is recommended that appropriate administrative officials become familiar with the policies and procedures in the NSF Grant Policy Manual, which are applicable to most NSF awards. If a proposal is recommended for an award, the NSF Division of Grants and Contracts will require certain organizational, management, and financial information. These requirements are described in Chapter III of the NSF Grant Policy Manual. Upon completion of the project a Final Project Report (NSF Form 98A), including the Part IV Summary, will be required. Applicants should review this form prior to proposal submission so that appropriate tracking mechanisms are included in the proposal plan to ensure that complete information will be available at the conclusion of the project. The Form 98A is computer generated and will be mailed to the grantee upon expiration of each grant. OMB No. 3145-0058P.T. 34K.W. 0501004 NSF 92-93 (replaces 90-40)