Project description
Solving the mysteries of geomagnetic excursions
The Earth’s magnetic field is essential for shielding our planet from harmful solar and cosmic radiation. However, geomagnetic excursions (episodes of low magnetic field intensity) disrupt this protective barrier. These events, which involve anomalous magnetic directions without complete polarity reversals, can have significant technological, environmental, and climatic consequences. Despite their importance, our understanding of geomagnetic excursions remains limited. In this context, the ERC-funded EXCURSION project aims to address this gap by building the first data-based model of the geomagnetic field during the Brunhes Chron (the past 780 000 years). By integrating high-resolution reconstructions of excursions with advanced 3D dynamo simulations and novel machine learning techniques, the project will improve predictions of future geomagnetic events.
Objective
EXCURSION resolves around fundamental questions concerning the operational mechanism, causation, and predictability of the most frequent transitional events of the Earth's magnetic field. Geomagnetic excursions are episodes of low field intensity globally with no complete polarity reversals but anomalous magnetic directions that do not reflect a dipolar field. They reduce the shielding against solar and cosmic radiation, thus triggering significant technological and potential environmental and climatic impacts. Our understanding of geomagnetic excursions is severely limited. The urgency to study these events arises from several facts, including the substantial decrease in geomagnetic field strength over the past centuries, certain future events considering the dynamic nature of excursions, and harmful effects on modern technology. To advance in this subject, we must understand the core dynamics and global and regional characteristics of as many of these events as possible. This project focuses on the geomagnetic excursions in the Brunhes Chron (past 780,000 years). I will build the first data-based model of the geomagnetic field over the Brunhes Chron, complemented with high-resolution reconstructions of excursions. These models will be assimilated into state-of-the-art 3D dynamo simulations to infer the excursional state of the core and geodynamo. Furthermore, novel machine learning methods will be applied to the new models to assess past field configurations that resemble the present-day and identify common characteristics and potential precursors of the excursions. This ground-breaking synthesis of multi excursional events analyzed with data-based reconstructions, data assimilation by 3D numerical simulations, and machine learning techniques will create a holistic framework and will advance our knowledge beyond the current understanding of the Earth's outer core dynamics.
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 computer and information sciences data science
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology geochronology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geophysics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications simulation software
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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HORIZON.1.1 - 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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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-2024-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.
14473 POTSDAM
Germany
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.