Objective Formation of the Earth and the other terrestrial planets of our Solar System (Mercury, Venus and Mars) commenced 4.568 billion years ago and occurred on a time scale of about 100 million years. These planets grew by the process of accretion, which involved numerous collisions with smaller (Moon- to Mars-size) bodies. Impacts with such bodies released sufficient energy to cause large-scale melting and the formation of deep “magma oceans”. Such magma oceans enabled liquid metal to separate from liquid silicate, sink and accumulate to form the metallic cores of the planets. Thus core formation in terrestrial planets was a multistage process, intimately related to the major impacts during accretion, that determined the chemistry of planetary mantles. However, until now, accretion, as modelled by astrophysicists, and core formation, as modelled by geochemists, have been treated as completely independent processes. The fundamental and crucial aim of this ambitious interdisciplinary proposal is to integrate astrophysical models of planetary accretion with geochemical models of planetary differentiation together with cosmochemical constraints obtained from meteorites. The research will involve integrating new models of planetary accretion with core formation models based on the partitioning of a large number of elements between liquid metal and liquid silicate that we will determine experimentally at pressures up to about 100 gigapascals (equivalent to 2400 km deep in the Earth). By comparing our results with the known physical and chemical characteristics of the terrestrial planets, we will obtain a comprehensive understanding of how these planets formed, grew and evolved, both physically and chemically, with time. The integration of chemistry and planetary differentiation with accretion models is a new ground-breaking concept that will lead, through synergies and feedback, to major new advances in the Earth and planetary sciences. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomygalactic astronomysolar astronomy 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-AG-PE10 - ERC Advanced Grant - Earth system science Call for proposal ERC-2011-ADG_20110209 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTH Address Universitatsstrasse 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberfranken Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Robert Debusmann (Mr.) Principal investigator David Crowhurst Rubie (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTH Germany EU contribution € 1 826 200,00 Address Universitatsstrasse 30 95447 Bayreuth See on map Region Bayern Oberfranken Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Robert Debusmann (Mr.) Principal investigator David Crowhurst Rubie (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
