website: https://graceful.oma.be
The researchers’ activities of GRACEFUL are linked to those of IAGA (International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy), IAG (International Association of Geodesy) and SEDI commission.
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GRACEFUL (GRavimetry, mAgnetism, rotation and CorE FLow) is funded by a Synergy Grant (No. 855677) from the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon 2020 program. The project spans 5 years, from 01.09.2020 to 31.08.2025.
Three female PIs lead GRACEFUL, each focusing on a key research area:
- Mioara Mandea – Geomagnetic field
- Anny Cazenave – Gravity field
- Véronique Dehant – Earth rotation
The main goal is to study the dynamics of Earth’s fluid, iron-rich outer core and processes at the core-mantle boundary.
The key scientific questions are:
- How do flow motions in the liquid core explain variations in the magnetic field, length of day (LOD), and geomagnetic jerks?
- What global core motions occur on decadal and sub-decadal timescales?
- How do the core, core-mantle boundary, and lower mantle influence changes in gravity, the magnetic field, and LOD?
These questions are addressed by combining recent observations of Earth’s gravity, magnetic field, and rotation with advanced models of core flows.
Why is this research important?
Understanding the Earth’s deep interior is crucial; the core-mantle boundary is a key area for understanding Earth’s geological activity, the behavior of materials under extreme conditions, and the dynamics that have shaped our planet over billions of years. Only in a synergetic way this can be achieved.
What is one key discovery and its challenges?
A 6-year cycle has long been observed in Earth’s rotation, magnetic field, and core motions. Recent findings reveal its influence on atmospheric angular momentum and climate variables like sea level rise, precipitation, and Arctic temperatures.
The project explores four possible explanations for this cycle:
- Mantle-driven atmospheric motion – A puzzling yet possible scenario.
- Atmospheric-mantle angular momentum exchange – Raises key questions about climate system periodicity.
- Magnetic field interactions with cosmic rays and solar wind – A promising avenue.
- High-frequency Milankovitch forcing – Aligns with some observations and requires further study.
Read more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10712-024-09874-4
A total of 22 Early Career Scientists (ECS) participated, including 7 PhD students (4 funded by GRACEFUL) and 15 postdoctoral researchers (14 funded by GRACEFUL). For more details, visit: https://graceful.oma.be/participants.
Don’t miss next week’s blog posts featuring interviews with ECS participating in the GRACEFUL project!