The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to advance the science and application of micrometeorology (for this SON defined as <1km, <1d) to the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) built and natural infrastructure. Solutions using fine-scale meteorological measurement array datasets were sought to test spatial and temporal assumptions of limited field measurements underlying current atmospheric surface/boundary layer understanding in ecological or engineering problem sets. These solutions had to connect fine-scale observations to micrometeorological modeling validation and verification to understand their impact on model accuracy. Specific research needs included:

• Advancing the application of low-cost commercial sensors and associated micrometeorology models validated against long-term, high-quality measurement standards. 
• Understanding the feedback of built and natural landscapes on local and dynamic installation conditions at a micro/mesoscale (e.g., heat islands, flash drought).
• Analyzing ecological variability resulting from fine-scale variations in moisture and temperature on habitats of species vulnerable to climate change or dependent on habitat refugia.
• Modeling critical micrometeorological processes into the future that are currently sub-grid parameters to downscaled products.

Limited Scope efforts were preferred as defined in the Cost and Duration section; for larger-scale efforts, the rationale had to be provided to justify the scale of such an approach.

The SERDP Office recognizes that definitions of micrometeorology vary, and precise scales of interest had to be justified within the proposal; modeling of sub-mesoscale processes were accepted with grid resolutions that meet general micrometeorological definitions.

Addressing the objectives described above will facilitate the DoD’s understanding of local to mesoscale variation of spatial and temporal conditions. The results will be critical for understanding many natural and engineering processes ranging from heat balance, convective driven precipitation, evapotranspiration, to ecological refugia, solar power arrays, and green building design. Implementation of the best available micro/mesoscale environmental models and decision aids will enhance DoD’s resilience planning and design, as well as conservation strategies for species dependent upon refugia. 

The DoD requires an understanding of local to mesoscale variation of spatial and temporal conditions for climate resilience and resource conservation. There is still a clear need to develop additional fine-scale measurements and analysis techniques to enhance modeling for decision support across many disciplines including, for example, habitat refugia, fire modeling, and flash drought forecasting. The critical importance of micrometeorology to these efforts is widely accepted in many disciplines, and low-cost sensors are increasing the density of observations in research applications. Few measurement arrays with required fine-scale spatial and long-term persistent datasets exist today to test spatial and temporal assumptions of limited field measurements, and few models connect these fine-scale observations to micro/mesoscale modeling. 

The DoD has invested in infrastructure for understanding micrometeorology. The DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory’s Meteorological Sensor Array located on the Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico was built due to the lack of micro-scale datasets collected over long timescales to validate and verify numerical weather prediction models within complex terrains relevant to the DoD. Data from this unique capability may be leveraged by proposers for improved understanding of how surface energy budget processes impact energy propagation. For more information about the sensor array, contact Dr. Robb Randall (robb.m.randall.civ@army.mil) at DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory. There is still a clear need to develop additional fine-scale analysis techniques to enhance modeling for decision support across many disciplines including, for example, fire and flash drought forecasting.

The cost and time to meet the requirements of this SON are at the discretion of the proposer; however, the SERDP Office believes that Limited Scope proposals are more appropriate for this SON. If a Standard Proposal is submitted as defined below, the rationale for this scale must be provided. The proposer must incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. The two options are as follows: 

Standard Proposals: These proposals describe a complete research effort. The proposer should incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. SERDP projects normally run from two to five years in length and vary considerably in cost consistent with the scope of the effort. 

Limited Scope Proposals: Proposers with innovative approaches to the SON that entail high technical risk or have minimal supporting data may submit a Limited Scope Proposal for funding up to $250,000 and approximately one year in duration. Such proposals may be eligible for follow-on funding if they result in a successful initial project. The objective of these proposals should be to acquire the data necessary to demonstrate proof-of-concept or reduction of risk that will lead to development of a future Standard Proposal. Proposers should submit Limited Scope Proposals in accordance with the SERDP Core Solicitation instructions and deadlines.