A European Network for Mineral Magnetic Studies of Environmental Problems

CORDIS RTD-PROJECTS/© European Communities, 1999. 
Project Reference: FMRX980247
Project Acronym: MAG-NET
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The MAG-NET research network is funded for 3 years by the European Union, and is aimed at addressing important environmental magnetic problems in a context that is beneficial for European society. 

Specifically, MAG-NET will assess and exploit the potential of mineral magnetic methods for climate and pollution issues. MAG-NET also
promotes training of young researchers.

Environmental magnetism involves measurement of the magnetic properties of environmental materials, including soils, sediments and dusts. 

The sensitivity of magnetic measurements enables detection of minute quantities of magnetic material. These magnetic properties often provide highly sensitive indicators of climate and environment. 

Anthropogenic pollution usually has a strong magnetic signature and magnetic techniques have proven to be capable of discriminating between different sources of pollution

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The MAG-NET aims are:
  • to evaluate climatic controls on soil magnetism to define the natural background magnetic signal for quantification of pollution loadings; 
  • to assess the expression of climate variability in mineral magnetic parameters by compilation of magnetic proxy data from natural climate archives (continental and marine sediments); 
  • to assess human health hazards from environmental pollution by magnetically detectable anthropogenic aerosols;
  • to quantitatively calibrate and model mineral magnetic measurements of natural materials against control samples of known mineralogy and grain size, and to cross-calibrate mineral magnetic techniques with other analytical tools.
In addition, the MAG-NET network aims to train the next generation of researchers in the application of magnetic measurements to environmental issues by:
  • providing mobility to young researchers so that they can experience a wide range of state-of-the-art measuring facilities
  • providing education in the theory and interpretation of data obtained from magnetic and analytical techniques through specially-designed advanced training workshops
  • providing education about the nature of environmental questions that mineral magnetic methods can help to solve
  • providing training in conducting societally-important research in an interdisciplinary frontier research field.

 
Prime Contractor:
Environmental Magnetism Laboratory
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Southampton Oceanography Centre
University of Southampton
European Way
Southampton SO14 3ZH
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact Person: 
Dr. Andrew P. ROBERTS
Tel: +44 23 8059.3786
Fax: +44 23 8059.3059

Start Date: October 1998
Duration: 36 months