| NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | November 22, 2024 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | November 22, 2024 |
| Award Number: | 2407264 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Jennifer Wade
jwade@nsf.gov (703)292-4739 EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | December 1, 2024 |
| End Date: | November 30, 2026 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $281,066.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $281,066.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
615 W 131ST ST NEW YORK NY US 10027-7922 (212)854-6851 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
61 Route 9W Palisades NY US 10964-1707 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| NSF Program(s): | CESEV-Chem Evo of Earth & Volc |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Understanding the Earth's interior remains a top research priority in the geosciences. How much carbon is in the Earth's mantle, how much goes in and how much comes out - these questions remain unanswered despite decades of dedicated research. Yet the answers to these questions have profound implications for how the Earth's interior must function and how our planet has evolved over geological time. This project aims to precisely quantify the carbon content and its isotopic signature (?13C) in the upper mantle to constrain how much of the Earth's carbon is contained in the upper mantle and in which regions of the mantle it accumulates. This research will not only advance our fundamental knowledge of Earth's interior but also support education by training a graduate student in state-of-the-art experimental and analytical techniques.
The project seeks to determine the carbon content and ?13C signature of the upper mantle through a two-pronged approach. First, the researchers will experimentally determine the mass-dependent isotopic fractionation of carbon during the degassing of silicate melts. High-pressure/high-temperature experiments will be conducted using internally heated pressure vessels and piston-cylinder apparatuses to simulate conditions in the upper mantle. These experiments will measure the isotopic fractionation coefficients (?) as a function of melt composition, temperature, and pressure. Second, the team will directly measure ?13C in deep mantle melts using melt inclusions from volcanoes such as Etna, Erebus, and El Hierro. By combining experimental data with natural observations, the researchers will back-calculate the original carbon content and isotopic signature of the mantle. The project will utilize recent advances in secondary ion mass spectrometry. The results will provide a comprehensive understanding of the carbon cycle in the upper mantle, contributing to our knowledge of Earth's deep carbon reservoirs and their impact on global geodynamics.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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