The U.S. Research Infrastructures Program for Environmental Research

Observing systems are critical component in the U.S. research infrastructure for environmental research and education.  Not only do they play a key role in successful academic research, they also contribute to the nation’s economic well-being, promote public engagement at all levels, and foster international partnerships.   NSF supports many environmental observing systems across a wide spectrum of the scientific and engineering enterprise including those related to biologic, hydrologic, atmospheric and oceanic processes.  Examples of NSF programs include the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the Ocean Observatories Investment (OOI), Critical Zone Observatories (CZO), the CUASHI Hydrological Information System (HIS), EarthScope, and the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC).  Each of these observing networks have specific foci related to scientific and engineering priorities, sensors, and cyber-infrastructure but there are also common characteristics and needs across many of these programs.