Project description
Earth’s magnetic field and the disappearance of the Neanderthals
Earth’s magnetic field has decreased about 20 % over the past 150 years. As Earth is constantly subjected to cosmic radiation, the intensity depends on the strength of the magnetic field. Over geological timescales, there have been periods of collapse of the magnetic dipole moment, and therefore of the magnetic field, which can be associated with changes in the polarity of the dipole or with simple geomagnetic excursions (GEs). UV radiation can penetrate deeper into the atmosphere during these periods. The EU-funded REVA project will study this UV window during the Mono Lake-Laschamps GE events. This is important considering its globality and the possible implications for human evolution (contemporaneous with the disappearance of the Neanderthals).
Objective
"The Earth is constantly subjected to cosmic radiation, the intensity of which, at the level of the upper atmosphere and the Earth's surface, depends on the strength of the magnetic field (MF) surrounding our planet. Over geological timescales, there have been periods of collapse of the magnetic dipole moment, and therefore of the MF, which can be associated with changes in the polarity of the dipole or with simple geomagnetic excursions (GE). GE events (typically lasting ~1ka to ~10ka) generate an increase in cosmic bombardment in the upper atmosphere and, ultimately, through chemical effects the destruction/thinning of the ozone layer. During these periods UV radiation can penetrate deeper into the atmosphere, while it is otherwise absorbed by the ozone layer. Yet, the reality of such a UV ""window” has never been attested by natural observations, which if present during GE events in the future would have significant environmental and above all human consequences. This is plausibly foreseen in a short term as the intensity of Earth’s MF has decreased (~20%) over the past 150 years and with an accelerated rate in the last decades (> ~10 times the normal). The aim of this project is, therefore, to test the reality of a UV window during the Mono Lake-Laschamps (~ -40 ka) GE event, which by its magnitude, its globality and the possible implications for human evolution (being contemporaneous with the disappearance of the Neanderthals), is an example of a remarkable case study. Here, by measuring stable isotopic composition of sulfur (S) at high resolution (<200 years) in ice cores taken in Antarctica, we will leverage peculiar aspects of atmospheric chemistry of the S-33 isotope. In the absence of ozone, the interaction between SO2 and UV radiation, through photochemical processes, generates mass-independent (Δ) signatures. We propose to trace a possible UV ""window"" by analyzing the evolution of the observed ΔS-33 anomaly and model the extent of depletion of ozone layer."
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.
- humanities history and archaeology archaeology ethnoarchaeology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences ozone depletion
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
75794 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.