Objective
Submarine canyons connect continents directly to the deep ocean. They are conduits for land-derived sediment, including low-density particles like particulate organic carbon (POC) and microplastics. The sediment buries these materials in seafloor deposits, effectively sequestering them from the atmosphere-land-ocean cycle. The POC burial is speculated to be enough to impact the global carbon budget. And the pollutants raise concerns about ecotoxicity in vulnerable seafloor ecosystems. Recent reviews unanimously define quantification of these particle fluxes as an urgent next step in research. However, my recent work demonstrates that progress in quantifying these fluxes is obstructed by our limited understanding of physical mechanisms of transport and burial of low-density particles. Existing knowledge dictates that these should not be deposited together with much denser mineral sand. Yet this is where we consistently find POC and microplastics.
DEEP-FLUX aims to establish a new physical framework for quantifying fluxes of POC and microplastics from land to the ocean floor. I built the Turbi-Flume set-up to facilitate novel, scaled-down laboratory experiments that will reveal the physical mechanisms of transport and burial of microplastics and POC in currents down submarine canyons (Objective 1). These mechanisms will be built into my existing computer model for sediment flux through submarine canyons (Objective 2). Monitoring data from submarine canyons obtained in my European network of collaborators will validate this new model (Objective 3). DEEP-FLUX will allow the international submarine canyon research community to supplement observational sea-going research with quantifications of carbon burial and microplastics pollution in deep-sea hotspots. Such work will ultimately allow this missing carbon sequestration pathway to be included in global carbon budget studies, and form a scientific basis for policies to protect and manage deep-sea environments.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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-2025-ADG
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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.
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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.