Accumulation rates and predominant atmospheric sources of natural and anthropogenic trace elements on the Falkland Islands

Project Information

SOUTHERNCHANGE

Grant agreement ID: 702916

DOI 10.3030/702916

Project closed

EC signature date 24 February 2016

Start date 10 October 2016

End date 9 October 2018

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost € 195 454,80

EU contribution € 195 454,80

Coordinated by

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Objective

“SOUTHERNCHANGE” aims to improve our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of trace elements and mineral dust in the western Southern Atlantic Ocean (SAO). We will establish the to date first high-resolution record of past and present atmospheric deposition fluxes for the Falkland Islands covering the entire Holocene (12 ky to date).
This is achieved studying the geochemistry of peat bog, lichens and aerosols and characterizing their elemental concentrations, radiogenic isotope ratios and mineralogy.
First, we will quantify the atmospheric deposition fluxes of trace elements and dust and their temporal variations and we will identify natural (i.e. mineral dust, volcanic emissions) and anthropogenic (i.e. fossil fuel combustion, mining, smelting) sources and controls. This will enable us to date the start of atmospheric pollution reaching the western SAO via long-range transport from anthropogenic emissions from South America, Southern Africa or Australia. We will furthermore determine present day atmospheric fluxes using lichens and aerosols collected with an active sampler. These will be compared with the natural background (chemical and isotopic composition, fluxes) as determined from the peat record and this will enable us to determine the present day relative contribution of local vs distant sources and natural vs anthropogenic sources.
The outcome of this project will quantitatively constrain the atmospheric deposition fluxes within the biogeochemical cycling of trace elements and dust within the western SAO. Knowing the chemical and isotopic composition of natural atmospheric deposition will enable us to understand present and future changes of elemental concentrations in the region of the Falklands and the western SAO due to human activities such as hydrocarbon exploration or emissions from emerging economies in the Southern Hemisphere. This work will provide a unique reference and baseline data for future environmental and climatic studies in the SAO.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › microbiology › mycology › ethnolichenology
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › geochemistry
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › geology › volcanology
• natural sciences › biological sciences › ecology › ecosystems
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › geology › mineralogy

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

• MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2015

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Coordinator

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE

• Net EU contribution: € 195 454,80
• Address: SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD ; SW7 2AZ LONDON ; United Kingdom
• Region: London › Inner London — West › Westminster
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Total cost: € 195 454,80