Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Brown University received a $688,223 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), awarded July 15, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2029. The grant funds research investigating extratropical storm dynamics and sea level extremes in New England, with particular focus on nor'easters and their role as a leading cause of extreme coastal flooding. The project delivers three primary products: (1) statistical and machine learning models quantifying predictability of extreme coastal flooding using large-scale climate and weather drivers; (2) high-resolution regional ocean modeling analyses examining how storm properties translate into coastal ocean impacts and associated flooding; and (3) ensemble climate simulation analyses projecting future changes in storm statistics, properties, and coastal flood risk.

Research outputs, datasets, and forecasting methods will be disseminated to coastal resilience managers, including the Community-Driven Coastal Climate Research and Solution (3CRS) Resilience Hub collaborating with New England waterfront communities, and will inform coastal observing practices. The project includes complementary workforce development and student training components. By combining coastal ocean modeling with machine learning approaches, the award addresses critical knowledge gaps in extratropical storm dynamics, ocean response modeling, and coastal flood risk forecasting specific to the New England region.