Objective Weathering of silicate rocks acts as a major sink for atmospheric CO2, and hence is thought to have played an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate over geological time. Despite the potential importance of this process, and its significance to the global carbon cycle, our ability to reconstruct past variations in silicate weathering remains limited. Another important issue is the degree to which human-induced environmental degradation has affected continental weathering on shorter time scales, from tens to thousands of years. A better understanding of how chemical weathering relates to climate change and human activities is necessary to address these issues.The SI-PALEO project proposes to explore the use of silicon isotopes in marine sediments as a new proxy for past continental weathering. Recent advances in the understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of silicon on continents have shown that Si isotopes could provide a unique tool for tracing the evolution of silicate weathering through time. In this study, the main objectives will be: 1) to determine the factors controlling the distribution of Si isotope ratios in terrigenous sediments, and 2) to assess the impact of climate change and human activities on past chemical weathering in Central Africa. These objectives will be addressed by analysing an extensive collection of river-borne sediments and exceptional marine sediment records from the Congo area.SI-PALEO is a multi-disciplinary project, proposed together by a French marine geoscientist and the Royal Museum of Central Africa (Belgium), a first-class centre for scientific research in Africa with expertise on Si isotope geochemistry, Earth Surface processes and archaeology. The data acquired during this project should improve our understanding of past interactions between climate, environment, and human activities. SI-PALEO will also contribute at strenghtening the applicant’s position in this novel frontier area of research. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistryisotope geochemistryengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changeshumanitieshistory and archaeologyarchaeologybioarchaeologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrybiogeochemistry Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE EU contribution € 235 000,00 Address LEUVENSESTEENWEG 13 3080 Tervuren Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Luc André (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data