Nerc-nsfgeo: observing orographically-influenced moisture transport through the international research program SN?troll

The National Science Foundation Division of Polar Programs awarded Earth And Space Research $320,945 on August 1, 2026, under the Polar Programs funding opportunity (CFDA 47.078) to observe orographically-influenced moisture transport through the international research program Snøtroll, a project jointly funded by NSF/GEO and the United Kingdom's National Environment Research Council via the NSF/GEO-NERC Lead Agency Agreement.

The award supports deployment of observational equipment along the escarpment at the edge of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, from low to high elevation and across different surface types (rock, ice, and snow), to track moisture and precipitation transport from the coast to the ice sheet interior. The data collected will enable researchers to evaluate and improve the performance of weather and Earth system models by increasing understanding of how the escarpment functions as a gateway for moisture reaching East Antarctica's interior, where the greatest uncertainties remain in the balance of Antarctic ice mass.

Earth And Space Research, a nonprofit oceanographic research institute based in Seattle, Washington, will conduct the research. The period of performance runs through July 31, 2028. The Snøtroll project is part of the larger international research effort Antarctica InSync, which aims to improve understanding of Antarctic ice sheet dynamics and the factors controlling snowfall accumulation across the continent.

Abstract

This is a project jointly funded by the national science foundation?s directorate for geosciences (NSF/GEO) and the national environment research council (nerc) of the united kingdom (UK) via the NSF/GEO-nerc lead agency agreement. This agreement allows a single joint US/UK proposal to be submitted and peer-reviewed by the agency whose investigator has the largest proportion of the budget. Upon successful joint determination of an award recommendation, each agency funds the proportion of the budget that supports scientists at institutions in their respective countries. The SN?troll project is part of a large international research effort called antarctica insync. The antarctic ICE sheet contains about 70% of the earth?s fresh water and 90% of its ICE. The amount of ICE in antarctica is primarily controlled by how much snow falls on the ICE sheet and how much ICE is melts and is lost into the ocean. One of the greatest uncertainties in the balance of antarctic ICE is how much snow falls in east antarctica. Moisture and precipitation that reaches the interior must rise over the steep slope at the edge of the ICE sheet, called an escarpment. This project will increase understanding of how the escarpment acts as a gateway of moisture to the interior of antarctica. IT will do this by deploying equipment along the slope of the escarpment, from low to high elevation, and on different types of surfaces, rock, ICE and snow. The equipment will allow researchers to track moisture and precipitation from the coast to the interior. The goal is to provide novel data for evaluating and improving the performance of weather and earth system models. Antarctica contains enough freshwater to raise global sea levels by 70 meters, and nearly all of IT arrives as snowfall. The sparsity of observation means the amount of snow that falls across the continent, particularly in east antarctica, is still poorly understood. This knowledge GAP represents one of the largest uncertainties in global sea-level rise projections. SN?troll is a collaborative research project of researchers from the UK, norway, and the united states that will improve understanding of atmospheric processes in antarctica?s escarpment regions. These steep and complex landscapes, characterized by a heterogeneous landscape of snow, bare rock, and blue ICE, play a key, but poorly understood, role as a gateway for moisture and energy transfer between the southern ocean and the antarctic interior. Escarpments influence weather patterns, snowfall, and surface melt. SN?troll will leverage observations from the newly deployed, year-round integrated cloud observatory, established in february 2025 at troll station by the norwegian polar institute and research collaborators. SN?troll will build on this foundation by deploying an advanced network of additional sensors, both ground-based and airborne, designed to fill critical observational gaps and address three key topics: 1) the complex surface of the escarpment region influence weather conditions, 2) impacts on cloud formation and snowfall, and 3) assessing whether current weather and climate models accurately represent these processes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.