Objective
Earth’s plate tectonics is essential for maintaining long-term habitability. A key challenge is to explain the repeated shifts in tectonic activity during the Wilson cycle, when supercontinents assemble and later break apart. Traditional models focus on deep mantle processes, yet they have not succeeded in reproducing this cyclicity. Growing evidence suggests that climate may also play a decisive role. It has been proposed that A) erosion and the transport of sediments into oceanic trenches can help “lubricate” subduction zones, explaining events such as the acceleration of the India–Himalaya collision or the rapid increase in global plate motions after “Snowball Earth”, and B) the subduction style (stagnant or penetrative) into the lower mantle controls the scale of convection and thus the supercontinent cycle. SPHERE proposes that climate and surface processes may regulate subduction style thus the mantle dynamics, and ultimately, supercontinent cycles, with tropical precipitation gradients acting as a key driver. Yet this link between climate, subduction, and the supercontinent cycle has never been tested.
SPHERE (Surface Processes driving sHifts in platE tectonic Regimes on Earth) will establish the first integrated modelling framework that connects surface processes to subduction and mantle dynamics across scales. Building on recent advances in climate-tectonics coupling both in analog and numerical, SPHERE will test three innovative ideas: (1) a self-sustaining cycle between mountain growth, erosion, and subduction behaviour; (2) a climate-driven modulation of global tectonics through tropical erosion and sediment delivery; (3) the tropics acting as a catalyst for supercontinent transitions, influencing mantle circulation and even Earth’s rotation through mass redistribution.
By combining analogue experiments, regional simulations, and global-scale spherical models, SPHERE will assess how erosion and sediment transport reshape Earth’s surface and interior. The
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology sedimentology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology seismology plate tectonics
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geophysics
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology geomorphology
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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.