In its first year administering seed grants, CGRER awarded 18 grants totaling $237,871
Application of Radioastronomical Techniques to Measure Earth’s Ozone Layer
John Fix and Steven Spangler investigated a radio-astronomial technique for measuring ozone concentrations accurately at all levels of the atmosphere.
Land-Atmosphere Feedbacks on Regional Scales in Mid-Continent Watersheds
Konstantine Georgakakos attempted to better understand the regional variability of links between soil moisture and climate (specifically air temperature and pressure), over time, through investigating 30 years of data on these traits collected in the Des Moines River watershed.
High Resolution Paleoclimatic Analysis in Speleothem Calcite: Cold Water Cave, Iowa
Luis Gonzalez and Mark Reagan determined that analysis of stalagmites can be used to determine shifts in climate (such as periods of high precipitation) over the past 10,000 years.
Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture: Basic-Scale Averaging Concepts
Witold Krajewski helped develop more accurate techniques for quantifying moisture, first by evaluating the accuracy of satellite-based large-scale remote sensing of soil moisture (which is an important indicator of more general climatic conditions), then by working on a method of estimating rainfall on the open ocean through recording underwater noise created by the rain.
Georgraphic Distribution Analysis of the Forest Trees of Eastern North America
George Malanson and Marc Armstrong improved the precision of computer simulation models for predicting the response of important tree species of eastern North Amoerica's fragmented forests to changes in climate — an important potential result of global warming.
A Comparative and Contextual Analysis of Environmental Risk Assessments
Eric Plutzer applied a cultural theory of risk perception and political division to citizen groups in the European Economic Community, thereby theoretically developing techniques for mediating environmental disputes.
A Simple Global Carbon Dioxide Model for Scenario Analyses and Research Prioritization
Jerry Schnoor and Y. Yan coupled and cross-checking computer models dealing with greenhouse gasses, thus improving predictions of trace gas characteristics during global warming.
Intercomparison of Global Climate Model Simulations for the U.S. Midwest for a Doubling of Atmospheric CO2
Gene Takle and Linda Mearns modeled future temperature variables for the Midwest given present carbon dioxide, and improved the resolution of their model by relating temperature to the Earth's surface characteristics (two grants awarded).
Photochemical Processes Affecting Trace Gas Emissions, Carbon Cycling, and Light Attenuation in Aquatic Environments
Richard Valentine looked at the sunlight-induced degradation of dissolved organic material, and the resulting rates of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide production.
Paleoenvironmental Analyses in the Southern Midwest
Richard Baker and Diana Horton studied both ecosystems and climates of the past 10,000 years, in particular searching the southern boundaries of the prairie province for fossiliferous deposits that would allow more detailed investigations.
Global Climate Change and Regional Trace Gas Cycles: A Study of Impacts and Feedbacks
Greg Carmichael considered how climate change on a global scale would affect trace gas cycles in the eastern United States and the resulting changes in air pollutants, ultraviolet light penetration, and temperature.
Carbon, Nitrogen, and Energy Budgets for Iowa-Grown Biomass Fuels
Lou Licht measured the emission of greenhouse gasses from the burning of biomass fuels (such as corn and wood chips) as alternative fuels, and evaluated their impact on global warming relative to fossil fuels.
Radiative Transfer in Rainy Clouds with Application to Remote Sensing of Rainfall
Ted Smith improved understanding of remote satellite sensing of rainfall by investigating the efforts of various cloud types and rainfall patterns on the radiant energy signal received by the satellite.
Climate Change Impacts on Hydrology and Water Quality in Iowa
U. Sunday Tim, Ramesh Kanwar, and Robert Jolly considered the ramifications of climatic change on crop production, farm profits, and hydrology in Iowa (two grants awarded).
Interpretation and Clarification of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity
Burns Weston interpreted and clarified the 1992 multilateral Convention on Biological Diversity. His project helped establish an ongoing Law, Science, and Global Environmental Policy Project within the University of Iowa's law and engineering colleges.