Project description
Deeper understanding of how calcium carbonates behave could improve climate models
Calcium carbonates (CaCO3) play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate by controlling the ocean’s capacity to take up CO2 from the atmosphere. Their reactivity varies depending on their type, composition and environment. The latter is often oversimplified in research, which is especially problematic in coastal areas, where multiple CaCO3 phases exist and environmental conditions change rapidly. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REACT project introduces the concept of a reactive continuum for CaCO3, treating it as a complex mix of phases. REACT will explore how CaCO3 dissolves, how this system affects climate systems and how it is impacted by human activities. Advancing understanding of CaCO3 dynamics will be crucial when assessing the seabed’s response to climate change.
Objective
Calcium carbonates (CaCO3) are a group of minerals with a major impact on Earth's climate, as their formation and dissolution regulate the ocean's capacity to take up CO2 from the atmosphere. While each type of CaCO3 has a reactivity that depends on its structure, composition, and environment, experimental and modelling work generally simplifies CaCO3 as one homogeneous phase. Neglecting the variability in CaCO3 reactivity is especially problematic in coastal systems, which are intimately coupled with the atmosphere, contain a multitude of CaCO3 phases, and where environmental conditions shift rapidly.
In REACT, I will introduce and test the concept of a reactive continuum of CaCO3, inspired by models of organic matter degradation. Combining expertise in CaCO3 dynamics, sediment biogeochemistry, and modelling, I will (1) describe the reactive continuum of CaCO3 in a complex mixture of phases through mechanistic laboratory experiments using a novel multi-tracer tool to track the order and rate of dissolution, (2) identify signs of the reactive continuum of CaCO3 in natural sediment environments by combining a thorough geochemical characterization of the sediment with detailed analysis of extracted CaCO3 particles, and (3) determine the effect of human activities on CaCO3 dissolution in coastal sediments by creating a numerical model describing the reactive continuum of CaCO3 and using it to simulate anthropogenic disturbances.
REACT will advance our understanding of CaCO3 dynamics, which will be crucial when assessing the seafloor's response to climate change. The project will produce knowledge to support United Nations and European Union sustainability goals, and will provide new research tools for mechanistic studies of CaCO3 dissolution and incorporation into Earth system models. Leading this project will add key skills to my scientific and academic toolbox and prepare me for a career as an innovative, independent and excellence-oriented researcher.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry biogeochemistry
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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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
75794 Paris
France
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