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Multiscales and Critical Transitions in the Earth System

Project description

Training young scientists in climate tipping points

Tipping points in the climate system are thresholds where a tiny change could push the system into a completely new state. They are of particular interest in reference to concerns about global warming. The EU-funded CriticalEarth project will train 15 early-stage researchers on new methods for assessing the mechanisms and associated risks of critical transitions in the climate. The focus will be on investigating how complex mathematics can be used to predict and avoid irreversible climate change. The network will offer researchers an excellent background for working with cross-disciplinary teams in academia, industry, and governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Objective

The objective of CriticalEarth is to train a cohort of exceptional young scientists, and to advance our understanding of tipping points and assess possible connections between tipping elements in the climate. Fundamental development of the mathematics involved in such multi-scale problems and methods for exploring rare events and critical transitions in computationally heavy state-of-the-art climate models are in focus. The dynamical behavior of complex systems such as the climate in terms of bifurcations and the dependence on stochastic fluctuations as well as the feedbacks involved in the physical processes causing critical transitions will be subject of the research. This is important for underpinning the planetary boundaries and the response to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Ultimately, defining the thresholds for irreversible climate change is a grand scientific challenge and a matter of huge societal importance. Predicting the future climate beyond the linear response to greenhouse forcing, developing early warning systems and quantifying safe operating spaces are challenges for the next generation of scientists. CriticalEarth will train 15 early stage researchers to develop new methods for assessing the mechanisms and associated risks of critical transitions in the climate. The program will enable them to generate, integrate and apply multidisciplinary knowledge from applied mathematics, climate science (paleo and projected future) and numerical simulations. The network will give them an excellent background for collaborating in cross-disciplinary teams in academia, industry, governmental- and non-governmental institutions. CriticalEarth's main outcomes will be (i) a cohort of trained scientists within a research field with high demand for years to come; (ii) a ground-breaking understanding of multiscale dynamics in the Earth system and (iii) better foundations for understanding and better tools for assessing and avoiding irreversible climate change.

Keywords

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Programme(s)

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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.

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.

MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020

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Coordinator

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 595 044,00
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 595 044,00

Participants (11)

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