Project description DEENESFRITPL Mapping deep mantle transition The lower mantle is the liquid inner layer of Earth, between 400 and 1 800 miles below its surface. Seismic tomography has helped provide three-dimensional mapping of the lower mantle. However, the interpretation of models to highlight such factors as geochemical heterogeneity or dynamic mantle flow has been mixed, and ambiguous. The EU-funded DEEP-MAPS project provides for what its creators call a novel class of time-resolved experiments that will help map lower-mantle phase transitions, their impact on physical properties and their seismic signature. What is more, DEEP-MAPS will examine the time-dependence of each phase transition, contributing to better scaling of geological processes. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Processes in Earth's lower mantle govern our planet's inner dynamics and control surface plate tectonics. As such, a quantitative understanding of the physical and chemical properties of the lower mantle is pivotal to model Earth’s dynamic evolution, including the long-term chemical interactions between mantle and atmosphere that are vital to the development of habitability on Earth, and possibly other planets. While seismic tomography is providing increasingly detailed three-dimensional maps of the lower mantle, the interpretation of tomographic models to elucidate key factors such as mantle geochemical heterogeneity or dynamic mantle flow processes has proven to be highly ambiguous. All evidence points to phase transitions being the missing link needed to converge to a consistent interpretation of seismic observations. The same phase transitions also play a key role in governing mantle dynamics. But even fundamental properties, such as the location of major phase transition boundaries in Earth’s mantle, are poorly constrained. This is because the parameter space (pressure-temperature-composition) is huge and experimental measurements at planetary interior conditions are extremely slow. DEEP-MAPS will employ a novel class of time-resolved high-pressure/-temperature experiments that reduce by several orders of magnitude the time for key experiments. This will allow DEEP-MAPS to map lower mantle phase transitions, their impact on physical properties and their seismic signature with practically continuous coverage in relevant pressure-temperature-composition-space. DEEP-MAPS will further probe the time-dependence of phase transitions, transforming our understanding of how to scale from laboratory measurements to geophysical processes.DEEP-MAPS will provide a step-change in our ability to interpret mantle seismic observables and to quantify the geodynamic impact of mantle phase transitions, ultimately leading to a holistic picture of Earth’s deep mantle. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologyseismologyplate tectonics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Net EU contribution € 2 261 100,00 Address Wellington square university offices OX1 2JD Oxford United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 2 261 100,00 Address Wellington square university offices OX1 2JD Oxford See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
