CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE MINIMUM OF SOLAR CYCLE 24

NASA notes, "in retrospect" that solar cycle 24 is different with lower solar output
"This is evidenced in records of both solar activity and the response to it of the terrestrial space environment."

B.9 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE MINIMUM OF SOLAR CYCLE 24
Clarified March 10, 2009: All references to "Solar Cycle 23" have been updated to "Solar Cycle 24." Reference in Section 1 to "Solar Cycle 22" has been updated to "Solar Cycle 23."
1. Scope of Program
In 2009, we are in the midst of the minimum of solar activity that marks the end of Solar Cycle 24. As this cycle comes to an end we are recognizing, in retrospect, that the Sun has been extraordinarily quiet during this particular Solar Cycle minimum. This is evidenced in records of both solar activity and the response to it of the terrestrial space environment. For example:
Causes – Solar output
•Lowest sustained solar radio flux since the F 10.7 proxy was created in 1947;
•Solar wind global pressure the lowest observed since the beginning of the Space age;
•Unusually high tilt angle of the solar dipole throughout the current solar minimum;
•Solar wind magnetic field 36% weaker than during the minimum of Solar Cycle 23;
•Effectively no sunspots;
•The absence of a classical quiescent equatorial streamer belt; and
•Cosmic rays at near record-high levels.

Consequences
•With the exception of 1934, 2008 had more instances of 3-hr periods with Kp=0 than any other year since the creation of the index in 1932;
•Cold contracted ionosphere and upper atmosphere; and
•Remarkably persistent recurrent geomagnetic activity.

Thus, we have an unprecedented opportunity to characterize the quiet/background state of the heliosphere when the solar source function is as close to the ground state as it has been in the modern era.

NASA’s Heliophysics Division wishes to facilitate study of this special period. This ROSES element thus solicits proposals to study the Causes and Consequences of the Minimum of Solar Cycle 24 (CCMSC). Proposals are encouraged that take advantage of this opportunity with studies of domains ranging from the center of the Sun through terrestrial and planetary space environments to the boundary of the heliosphere. High priority will be given to studies addressing the interaction between various regimes.

Taking maximum advantage of this opportunity will require interaction between specialists in different regimes. Selected Principal Investigators will have responsibilities for both their own specific research and for participation in a yearly workshop where all the CCMSC investigators will be brought together to explore the implications of their own work for other regions. Proposals should address both of these responsibilities.

2. Programmatic Information
2.1 Budget Information
The Heliophysics Division has identified a total of $4.5M for support of this opportunity, available over a three-year period. We thus expect annual funding of $1.5M to be available for support CCMSC investigations. This is a one time only solicitation.

2.2 Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria specified in section C.2 of the NASA Guidebook for Proposers. These criteria are intrinsic merit, relevance to NASA’s objectives, and cost realism/reasonableness.
The determination of a proposal’s relevance shall include the contribution of the proposed investigation to understanding the causes and/or consequences of the very low solar activity minimum of Solar Cycle 24, including also the degree to which it addresses the interaction between various regimes.

2.3 Education and Public Outreach Opportunities
NASA policy strongly encourages participation in Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) activities by members of the science community. You may be eligible to propose a supplemental Education or Outreach effort if your research proposal is selected for award. The research award must have more than 15 months remaining at the time of submission of the supplement proposal. For additional details concerning the submission of Outreach or Education supplement proposals, please see Supplemental Outreach Awards for ROSES Investigators (Appendix E.5) and Supplemental Education Awards for ROSES Investigators (Appendix E.6).

3. Summary of Key Information
Expected annual program budget for new awards
$1.5 M
Number of new awards pending adequate proposals of merit
10 – 15
Maximum duration of awards
3 years
Due date for Notice of Intent to propose (NOI)
April 17, 2009
Due date for proposals
June 5, 2009
Planning date for start of investigation
6 months after proposal due date.
B.9-2
B.9-3
Page limit for the central Science-Technical-Management section of proposal
15 pp; See also Chapter 2 of the 2009 Guidebook for Proposers.
Relevance
This program is relevant to the heliophysics strategic goals and subgoals in NASA’s Strategic Plan; see Table 1 and the references therein. Proposals that are relevant to this program are, by definition, relevant to NASA.
General information and overview of this solicitation
See the ROSES Summary of Solicitation.
Detailed instructions for the preparation and submission of proposals
See the 2009 NASA Guidebook for Proposers at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nraguidebook/.
Submission medium
Electronic proposal submission is required; no hard copy is required or permitted. See also Section IV of the ROSES Summary of Solicitation and Chapter 3 of the 2009 NASA Guidebook for Proposers.
Web site for submission of proposal via NSPIRES
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (help desk available at nspires-help@nasaprs.com or (202) 479-9376)
Web site for submission of proposal via Grants.gov
http://grants.gov (help desk available at support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726)
Funding opportunity number for downloading an application package from Grants.gov
NNH09ZDA001N-CCMSC
NASA point of contact concerning this program
Dr. Mary Mellott
Heliophysics Division
Science Mission Directorate
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001
Telephone: (202) 358-0893
E-mail: Mary.M.Mellott@nasa.