Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N018508/1
Integrated Understanding of the Early Jurassic Earth System and Timescale (JET)
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor SP Hesselbo, University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C M Belcher, University of Exeter, Geography
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor TM Lenton, University of Exeter, Geography
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Climate modelling
- Fossil fuels
- Isotopic record
- Ocean acidification
- Ocean atmosphere interaction
- Ocean modelling
- Palaeoclimate simulation
- Regional climate
- Sea level rise
- Sea surface temperature
- Surface ocean circulation
- Climate & Climate Change
- Gas hydrates
- Oil and gas
- Shale gas
- Earth Resources
- Anoxic events
- Climate change
- Fossil record
- Ice ages
- Large igneous provinces
- Marine carbonates
- Marine sediments
- Mass extinctions
- Mesozoic climate change
- Ocean acidification
- Palaeo proxies
- Palaeoclimatology
- Palaeoecology
- Palaeogeology
- Palaeomagnetism
- Sea level history
- Palaeoenvironments
- Carbon cycling
- Chemical weathering
- Gas hydrates
- Isotopic analysis
- Marine carbonates
- Marine sediments
- Methanogenesis
- Organic carbon
- Sea level variation
- Sediment coring
- Sediment transport
- Sedimentary deposits
- Sedimentary rocks
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Abstract:
- We propose a large-scale, multi-faceted, international programme of research on the functioning of the Earth system at a key juncture in its history - the Early Jurassic. At that time the planet was subject to distinctive tectonic, magmatic, and solar system orbital forcing, and fundamental aspects of the modern biosphere were becoming established in the aftermath of the end-Permian and end-Triassic mass extinctions. Breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea was accompanied by creation of seaways, emplacement of large igneous provinces, and occurrence of biogeochemical disturbances, including the largest magnitude perturbation of the carbon-cycle in the last 200 Myr, at the same time as oceans became oxygen deficient. Continued environmental perturbation played a role in the recovery from the end-Triassic mass extinction, in the rise of modern phytoplankton, in preventing recovery of the pre-existing marine fauna, and in catalysing a 'Mesozoic Marine Revolution'. However, existing knowledge is based on scattered and discontinuous stratigraphic datasets, meaning that correlation errors (i.e. mismatch between datasets from different locations) confound attempts to infer temporal trends and causal relationships, leaving us without a quantitative process-based understanding of Early Jurassic Earth system dynamics. This proposal aims to address this fundamental gap in knowledge via a combined observational and modelling approach, based on a stratigraphic 'master record' accurately pinned to a robust geological timescale, integrated with an accurate palaeoclimatic, palaeoceanographic and biogeochemical modelling framework. The project has already received $1.5M from the International Continental Drilling Programme towards drilling a deep borehole at Mochras, West Wales, to recover a new 1.3-km-long core, representing an exceptionally expanded and complete 27 My sedimentary archive of Early Jurassic Earth history. This core will allow investigation of the Earth system at a scale and resolution hitherto only attempted for the last 65 million years (i.e. archive sedimentation rate = 5 cm/ky or 20 y/mm). We will use the new record together with existing data and an integrative modelling approach to produce a step-change in understanding of Jurassic time scale and Earth system dynamics. In addition to order of magnitude improvements in timescale precision, we will: distinguish astronomically forced from non-astronomically forced changes in the palaeoenvironment; use coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models to understand controls on the climate system and ocean circulation regime; understand the history of relationships between astronomically forced cyclic variation in environmental parameters at timescales ranging from 20 kyr to 8 Myr, and link to specific aspects of forcing relating to solar energy received; use estimated rates and timing of environmental change to test postulated forcing mechanisms, especially from known geological events; constrain the sequence of triggers and feedbacks that control the initiation, evolution, and recovery from the carbon cycle perturbation events, and; use Earth system models to test hypotheses for the origins 'icehouse' conditions. Thirty six project partners from 13 countries substantially augment and extend the UK-based research.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Oct 2016 - 30 Sep 2023
- Value:
- £1,802,014 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N018508/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Large Grant
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Large Grant
This grant award has a total value of £1,802,014
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Staff | DI - Equipment | DA - Estate Costs | DI - T&S | DA - Other Directly Allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £688,369 | £285,304 | £201,927 | £347,082 | £28,502 | £109,841 | £58,961 | £82,030 |
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