Grants and Contributions:

AOS/HAWC Science Development Team: A proposal to Canadian Space Agency to support initial HAWC science development activities for 2023-2026

24SUHAWCSD

$1,500,000.00

Apr 15, 2024 - Oct 31, 2026

Joining the leadership in the space observations of climate change, Canada aims to contribute three instruments, TICFIRE, ALI and SHOW, jointly known as HAWC, to co-fly with the other instruments in the NASA-led AOS satellite mission. This project proposes to conduct research activities and organize dedicated community workshops to establish and grow the Canadian science development team (SDT) for AOS/HAWC before launch. The research activities will focus on four essential areas of the HAWC science: satellite data comparison techniques, weather forecasting, climate modeling, and other science applications. Specifically, the four proposed sub-projects will explore i) impact of geophysical variability and trajectory hunting techniques for satellite data comparisons, ii) satellite detection of snowfall and snow accumulation across Canada’s North, iii) thermodynamic anomalies and their radiative impacts in extreme weather events, and iv) cloud feedback and its far infra-red signature in global climate models. The outcomes are expected to further the development of higher-level data products, science applications and services, advancement of the technology to integrate AOS/HAWC data in weather and climate modeling, e.g., through data assimilation or process-level model validation, and establishment of methods to transfer the geophysical information to society such as for policy guidance and economic benefits. With the growing community awareness and interest, the contribution for this project will also be used to leverage additional funding, such as the NSERC/Alliance, to support HAWC science and applications development in other areas such as policy and economics.

Canadian Space Agency

The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.

Monteal, Quebec, CA H3A 0G4

003-2024-2025-Q1-00001

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Academia

The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology

This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.

The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.