A new priority programme of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) will investigate the long-term evolution of the Earth’s deep interior, in particular how the fluid outer core and the mantle interact and how material properties affect this interaction. The aims are to elucidate the processes that determine geomagnetic field polarity changes and the strong variability in field reversal rate, and to better understand deep mantle processes and mantle convection with implications for plate tectonics. The programme will also involve the biological aspect how the evolution of magnetoreceptive organisms is influenced by geomagnetic field strength and reversal rate.

The priority programme, entitled “Reconstructing the Deep Dynamics of Planet Earth over Geologic Time (DeepDyn)” was initiated by Stuart Gilder, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Monika Korte, GFZ, and Johannes Wicht, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research Göttingen and is coordinated at LMU. Scientists from several GFZ sections were involved in preparing the programme and plan to contribute in different collaborative projects. The call for proposals is open with the deadline of October 19, 2022.

• https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/info_wissenschaft/ausschreibungen/info_wissenschaft_22_47/index.html
• https://deepdyn.geophysik.uni-muenchen.de/