Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00346
How do silicate minerals weather in nature?
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor M Lee, University of Glasgow, School of Geographical & Earth Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor ME Hodson, University of York, Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Glasgow, School of Geographical & Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Earth Surface Processes
- Soil science
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The goals of this research programme are to determine the fundamental mechanisms by which mineral grains chemically break down within soils in a process termed weathering. Although these chemical reactions are of crucial importance to the habitability of the Earth's surface, they are very poorly understood. This is because until now the techniques to study the outer surfaces of these minerals, which contain a wealth of information about weathering mechanisms, have been unavailable. We will adopt a cross-disciplinary approach to these problems by combining techniques of mineralogy, soil science and physics and drawing on the experience of researchers from all three disciplines. Using newly-developed techniques we will cut cross-sectional slices 10,000th of a millimetre in thickness from the surfaces of mineral grains recovered from soils of known age and determine their chemical and physical properties. Mineral grains used in laboratory experiments designed to simulate natural processes will be studied in the same way in order to assess the degree to which these experiments mirror natural processes. Results of this work will enable existing models for chemical weathering to be critically evaluated and new models developed. These results will also help to provide more detailed and reliable inputs for Earth and Environmental scientists wishing to understand and quantify interactions between the geosphere and the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00346
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £114,507
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5,053 | £59,669 | £22,339 | £27,447 |
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