Objective
Ice sheets regulate Earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight away, enabling suitable temperatures for human habitation. Warming is reducing these ice masses and raising sea level. Glaciologists predict ice loss using computational ice sheet models which interact with climate and oceans, but with caveats that highlight processes are inadequately encapsulated. Weather forecasting made a leap in skill by comparing modelled forecasts with actual outcomes to improve physical realism of their models. This project sets out an ambitious programme to adopt this data-modelling approach in ice sheet modelling. Given their longer timescales (100-1000s years) we will use geological and geomorphological records of former ice sheets to provide the evidence; the rapidly growing field of palaeoglaciology.
Focussing on the most numerous and spatially-extensive records of palaeo ice sheet activity - glacial landforms - the project aims to revolutionise understanding of past, present and future ice sheets. Our mapping campaign (Work-Package 1), including by machine learning techniques (WP2), should vastly increase the evidence-base. Resolution of how subglacial landforms are generated and how hydrological networks develop (WP3) would be major breakthroughs leading to possible inversions to information on ice thickness or velocity, and with key implications for ice flow models and hydrological effects on ice dynamics. By pioneering techniques and coding for combining ice sheet models with landform data (WP4) we will improve knowledge of the role of palaeo-ice sheets in Earth system change. Trialling of numerical models in these data-rich environments will highlight deficiencies in process-formulations, leading to better models. Applying our coding to combine landforms and geochronology to optimise modelling (WP4) of the retreat of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets since the last glacial will provide ‘spin up’ glaciological conditions for models that forecast sea level rise.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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) ERC-2017-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
S10 2TN SHEFFIELD
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.