Project description
Uncovering the secrets of planetary crust formation
Plate tectonics – the movement of Earth's lithosphere – may have been driven originally by the low density of the planet's continental crust. Studies have revealed that this low density is caused by processes that affected the distribution of material throughout the continents. However, gaps remain in our knowledge regarding the characteristics of the crust on other terrestrial planets and how it formed. In particular, could similar physical processes occur on other planets with no plate tectonics? The EU-funded CRUSLID project seeks to address these gaps by developing a groundbreaking model to determine the crust characteristics of other planets. It will achieve this using multidisciplinary research and new planetary observations that could provide important insights into crust formation on primitive terrestrial bodies.
Objective
The low density of the Earth’s continental crust has been proposed to be at the origin of plate tectonics. Physical studies on the continental crust have shown that its low density was acquired by differentiation of the crust and loss of dense mafic residues. What is the composition and vertical structure of the crusts of the other terrestrial planets, which do not show plate tectonics? How did they form and what are the modifications they have undergone following their formations? Are they far from being of continental-type? To answer these questions, I propose to study from a physical perspective the crust structure and the processes of crust formation and evolution on terrestrial planets other than Earth using innovative thermal, mechanical and dynamical models combined with new planetary observations. Temperature is a crucial control variable as it dictates phase changes, buoyancy, mechanical properties and stress state. In the crust and stagnant lithosphere of terrestrial planets, temperature is controlled by the distribution of heat producing elements. Lithosphere cooling being the most likely cause of quakes on stagnant-lid planets, we propose to constrain the concentration and distribution of heat producing elements on Mars and the Moon by comparing recorded and predicted seismicity from thermal evolution models. From these thermal evolution models, we will also evaluate the potential for planetary crust differentiation and evolution. From magma ascent models, sensitive to crust density and mechanical state, combined with systematic in quantitative observations of volcanic structures and deposits on terrestrial planets, we will constrain the crust structure and thermal state. Finally, we will develop new models of primitive crust formation in a stagnant lid regime of convection to evaluate the characteristics of primitive crusts on terrestrial bodies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences natural satellites
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
69342 Lyon
France
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