Objective Global climate change induced by anthropogenic emissions of CO2 is currently a major issue facing humanity, but uncertainties in the magnitude and rate of climate change remain, and deterministic predictions are beyond our capacity. In this context, the study of how the geochemical carbon cycle established a relatively narrow band of variability in atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last 400 ka is of great interest. However, large uncertainties in both weathering and volcanic CO2 fluxes prevent a truly quantitative assessment of this critical cycle. Measuring the global volcanic CO2 flux, GVFCO2, would allow us to better understand the likely impact large eruptions have had in Earth’s history, and constrain the natural vs. anthropogenic CO2 flux.We propose a truly innovative project to address head on the problem of determining GVFCO2. We will create new, compact instruments, utilising cutting-edge laser technologies, which will allow us to measure volcanic CO2, H2O, SO2 and HCl fluxes from aircraft. By flying below and through the volcanic plumes created by ~50 active volcanoes (~10% of all active volcanoes) of the Banda-Sunda arc in Indonesia, the majority of which have never been measured before, we will dramatically increase our understanding of GVFCO2 and geochemical cycles for all these species.Measuring the volcanic emissions from an entire subduction arc is an unprecedented experiment, providing insight into the slab and mantle heterogeneity and volatile mass balance. Perhaps the most important breakthrough that we will pursue will be the determination of the 37Cl/35Cl ratio from HCl emitted from each volcano. This ratio reflects the mantle/slab source proportion, and allows the input rate of volatiles to the mantle to be measured.The application of innovative new technology we propose here will produce ground-breaking insights into volcanology, isotope and gas geochemistry, volatile cycles, subduction and climate change. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistryengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraftnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologyvolcanologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE10 - ERC Starting Grant - Earth system science Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Address Oxford road M13 9PL Manchester United Kingdom See on map Region North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Michael Burton (Prof.) Administrative Contact Liz Fay (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER United Kingdom EU contribution € 649 902,61 Address Oxford road M13 9PL Manchester See on map Region North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Michael Burton (Prof.) Administrative Contact Liz Fay (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM United Kingdom EU contribution € 60 019,36 Address Stockton road the palatine centre DH1 3LE Durham See on map Region North East (England) Tees Valley and Durham Durham CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Wendy Harle (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE Italy EU contribution € 33 348,70 Address Lungotevere grande ammiraglio thaon di revel 76 00196 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Tiziana Giuli (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy EU contribution € 147 776,66 Address Piazzale aldo moro 7 00185 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Pasqualina Pipino (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI GEOFISICA E VULCANOLOGIA Italy EU contribution € 829 952,27 Address Via di vigna murata 605 00143 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Raffaela Pignolo (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
