Project description
How planets formed their crust after space collisions
During the final stages of planetary formation, moderate-sized space debris frequently collided with young planets. While these energetic impacts were common, their exact consequences remain poorly understood. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IMPool project will simulate how the massive melt pools generated by these collisions cooled down and solidified into early crust. Project activities will comprise three phases. Firstly, researchers will adjust model settings to match the environment immediately following an impact. Next, they will simulate known lunar basins using existing space mission data to test model accuracy. Ultimately, the team will analyse Martian impact basins, extending them to larger systems to investigate the mysterious formation of the Martian crustal dichotomy.
Objective
At the end of the planetary formation stage, collisions of leftover planetesimals onto planetary bodies are very common. While small impacts are known to form impact craters and basins on the planetary surface, the biggest and most energetic impacts can be disruptive. However, the consequence of moderately energetic impacts have not been as widely observed and studied, even though impactors of such sizes are expected to be common in the first few million years of planetary formation. My research interests focus on modelling the interior dynamics and surface features of terrestrial planets in our Solar System. Previously, I have run mantle convection models to demonstrate how such an intermediate planetary-scale impact may form the Crustal Dichotomy of Mars. Now, I would like to extend my study to understand in details how magma convection and solidification within the original impact melt pool can influence the differentiation into crust and residue in the first place.
My proposed project aims to apply a state-of-the-art magma dynamics model to study the evolution of impact melt ponds from fully molten state to completely solid, consisting of three work packages. The first work package includes the testing of parameters and setups suitable for post-impact conditions. The second work package focuses on modelling known impact basins on the Moon. The advantage of using known impact basins as testing grounds will allow me to compare model results to plentiful of space mission data, which will be useful to constrain the models. Finally, the third work package first examines impact basins of Mars, and then extend to larger systems to address questions regarding the Martian Dichotomy formation.
Aiming to serve as a bridge between the planetary impact and magma dynamics fields, results from this proposed project will help unravel the mystery of the biggest impact structures, and provide insight to the earliest part planetary history.
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 history
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planetary geology
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences natural satellites
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
G12 8QQ Glasgow
United Kingdom
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.