Fluids driving the evolution of the continental crust: influence of pathway networks, fluxes, and time scales (FluidNET)

Basic data for this project

Description

Going with the flow and following it where it may lead - Earth's crust is the outermost layer of our planet. Consisting of rocks and minerals, it can be divided into the thinner oceanic crust and the much older and thicker continental crust, of which the continents and continental shelves are made. Fluids play a critical role in the evolution of the crust, modulating processes including the capture and release of greenhouse gases and the redistribution of elements that form our valuable mineral resources and hydrocarbon deposits. Better understanding of the factors governing continental fluid fluxes on multiple time and distance scales will support effective and responsible access to dwindling raw materials that promote innovation. The EU-funded FluidNET project has set out to do just that, developing new models from the nano- to the continental scale while training a new generation of researchers to take the lead.