Obiettivo The recent IPCC report identifies mineral dust and the associated uncertainties in climate projections as key topics for future research. Dust size distribution in climate models controls the dust-radiation-cloud interactions and is a major contributor to these uncertainties. Observations show that the coarse mode of dust can be sustained during long-range transport, while current understanding fails in explaining why the lifetime of large airborne dust particles is longer than expected from gravitational settling theories. This discrepancy between observations and theory suggests that other processes counterbalance the effect of gravity along transport. D-TECT envisages filling this knowledge gap by studying the contribution of the triboelectrification (contact electrification) on particle removal processes. Our hypothesis is that triboelectric charging generates adequate electric fields to hold large dust particles up in the atmosphere. D-TECT aims to (i) parameterize the physical mechanisms responsible for dust triboelectrification; (ii) assess the impact of electrification on dust settling; (iii) quantify the climatic impacts of the process, particularly the effect on the dust size evolution during transport, on dry deposition and on CCN/IN reservoirs, and the effect of the electric field on particle orientation and on radiative transfer. The approach involves the development of a novel specialized high-power lidar system to detect and characterize aerosol particle orientation and a large-scale field experiment in the Mediterranean Basin using unprecedented ground-based remote sensing and airborne in-situ observation synergies. Considering aerosol-electricity interactions, the observations will be used to improve theoretical understanding and simulations of dust lifecycle. The project will provide new fundamental understanding, able to open new horizons for weather and climate science, including biogeochemistry, volcanic ash and extraterrestrial dust research. Campo scientifico natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesasteroidsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesnatural satellitesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrybiogeochemistry Programma(i) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Argomento(i) ERC-2016-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Invito a presentare proposte ERC-2016-COG Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Istituzione ospitante ETHNIKO ASTEROSKOPEIO ATHINON Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 968 000,00 Indirizzo LOFOS NYMFON 11810 Athina Grecia Mostra sulla mappa Regione Αττική Aττική Κεντρικός Τομέας Αθηνών Tipo di attività Research Organisations Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 1 968 000,00 Beneficiari (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo netto dell'UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto ETHNIKO ASTEROSKOPEIO ATHINON Grecia Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 968 000,00 Indirizzo LOFOS NYMFON 11810 Athina Mostra sulla mappa Regione Αττική Aττική Κεντρικός Τομέας Αθηνών Tipo di attività Research Organisations Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 1 968 000,00