Project description
Accurately interpreting radar signals to detect ice in Jupiter’s moons
Planned space missions will study the icy Galilean moons of Jupiter via radar sounders to detect subglacial liquid water. Ensuring accurate detections and minimising false positives will require knowledge of the dielectric properties of the ice and their effects on radar signal propagation. The ERC-funded SWIM project will develop pioneering methodologies and apply them. The team will conduct dielectric measurements across a range of frequencies and temperatures and will, empirically and through molecular modelling, characterise the structural and chemical behaviour of different ice types . The group’s similar work, which led to the first discovery of an extraterrestrial subglacial stable body of liquid water on Mars, lays the foundation for success.
Objective
In the near future a number of space missions will aim to study the icy Galilean satellites of Jupiter to detect subglacial liquid water, using radar sounders. To properly interpret the radar data, it is necessary to understand the dielectric properties of the icy shells of these bodies, as they control radar signal penetration and anomaly (i.e. water) detection. The current knowledge of these properties for the types of water ices believed to be present is limited, which would potentially produce incorrect interpretations of the radar data, thus risking the scientific goals of these missions. Based on extensive experience in characterizing the dielectric properties of planetary analogues, which led me and my group to discover the first extraterrestrial subglacial stable body of liquid water on Mars, we intend to develop new methodologies and protocols to create a groundbreaking knowledgebase that fills this critical gap. We will apply the first of its kind methodology for conducting dielectric measurements across a wide range of frequencies (including the challenging interval used by these radar systems) and temperatures representative of the different ice-forming environments, produce groundbreaking studies on the structural and chemical behavior of different ice types using CT microtomography and molecular dynamic modelling, and will create a wide-ranging dataset of the dielectric properties of non-terrestrial ices. Such pioneering and high gain research will allow to obtain the maximum benefit from missions such as JUICE and Europa CLIPPER. By the end of the project significant and fundamental progress will be made to properly perform dielectric measurements on icy planetary analogues, in the comprehension of the physics behind the dielectric behavior of water ice and icy materials, and in radar data modelling and interpretation. Moreover, the project’s results will serve as a critical knowledge base for present and future radar sounder planetary missions.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics electromagnetism
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy space exploration
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences natural satellites
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radar
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geophysics
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2023-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
00154 ROMA
Italy
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.