Collaborative Research: Network Hub: Enabling, Supporting, and Communicating Critical Zone Research.

临界区大致定义为地球从基岩顶端到树顶顶端的区域。这是一个支持所有陆地生命的地区，随着岩石、土壤、水、空气和生物相互作用来调节地球环境，该地区正在不断演变。该项目将建立关键区域合作网络的协调中心，该网络旨在继续国家科学基金会过去十年来支持的关键区域科学研究进展。网络协调中心将提供网络基础设施、数据管理和社区服务，以支持关键区域专题群，这是寻求关于地球表面系统功能的新的实用知识的研究合作。网络协调中心将：(1)加强和整合由水文科学促进大学联盟(CUAHSI)和地球化学公司运营的现有数据服务，以支持关键区域科学界；(2)通过社区综合活动以及通过获取社区数据和建立网络基础设施模型，支持科学发现；(3)通过外展和教育活动扩大关键区域社区和关键区域科学的影响；以及(4)通过协调、共享和社区活动加强关键区域专题群之间的合作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

ABSTRACTThe Critical Zone is loosely defined as the region of Earth from the top of the bedrock to the top of the treetops. This is the region that supports all terrestrial life and is constantly evolving as rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms interact to regulate the Earth’s environment. This project will establish the coordinating hub of the Critical-Zone Collaborative Network, which is designed to continue the research advances in the science of the Critical Zone that NSF has supported for the past decade. The Network Coordinating Hub will provide cyberinfrastructure, data management, and community services to support the Critical Zone Thematic Clusters, which are research collaboratiions pursuing new and practical knowledge concerning the functions of the Earth’s surface systems.The Network Coordinating Hub will: (1) enhance and integrate existing data services operated by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) and EarthChem to support the Critical-Zone science community; (2) support scientific discovery through community synthesis activities and via access to community data and modeling cyberinfrastructure; (3) broaden the Critical-Zone community and the impact of Critical-Zone science through outreach and education activities; and (4) enhance collaboration among the Critical Zone Thematic Clusters through coordination, sharing, and community events.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.