The ERC Consolidator project EXCURSION aims to answer key questions about the causes, behaviour, and predictability of the most frequent transitional events of the Earth's magnetic field. Geomagnetic excursions are periods when the magnetic field weakens globally, causing anomalous magnetic directions without a complete reversal of polarity. These events reduce the Earth's protection from solar and cosmic radiation, which can lead to major impacts on technology and possibly the environment and climate.

Our understanding of geomagnetic excursions is limited, with the most studied event being the most recent Laschamps excursion that happened 41 thousand years ago. This project will focus on geomagnetic excursions over the past 780,000 years, a period of normal polarity of the geomagnetic field called the Brunhes Chron. We will create the first data-based, global model of the geomagnetic field during this period, along with detailed reconstructions of several excursions. These models will be assimilated into numerical dynamo simulations to better understand the dynamics of Earth's core and geodynamo. Furthermore, novel machine learning techniques will be applied to identify past magnetic field configurations similar to today's and uncover common characteristics of geomagnetic excursions. This groundbreaking work will combine data-based reconstructions, data assimilation and machine learning to create a holistic picture of Earth's core dynamics and advance our knowledge of geomagnetic extreme events.

Project duration

2025 – 2030

Funding

EU

Principal Investigator

Dr. Sanja Panovska