The Energy Department will award up to $15 million in total funds to 27 atmospheric and ecological research projects that aim to modernize Earth system models designed for climate and weather forecasting.
DOE said Tuesday it chose the projects through a competitive peer review process under the Atmospheric System Research and the Environmental System Science programs.
“By helping us to better understand our environment, these investments in science will help us maintain a strong energy infrastructure and reliable energy supplies while also ensuring that America remains at the forefront of energy sciences and technology,” said Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
The projects seek to address uncertainty in Earth system models for ecological dynamics and disturbance, cloud-aerosol interactions and extreme weather.
DOE noted such models run on supercomputers and simulate environmental processes governing behaviors of atmosphere, cryosphere, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems and human infrastructure.
These simulations work to help researchers predict storms, wildfires and changes in sea ice and permafrost.