Earth System Evolution Program

Encoded in the chemical elements and radioactive isotopes of the Earth’s crust is a chronicle of our planet’s more than four billion years of history. At a time when global warming and natural disasters weigh heavily on the public consciousness, CIFAR’s Earth System Evolution program helps put our modern understanding of the world in perspective.

As the Earth continues to transform physically, chemically, and biologically, Earth System Evolution researchers study the interconnected systems that drive this evolution.  The program helps to identify the underlying processes responsible for the Earth’s major evolutionary steps.

Most global change researchers have a narrow focus, mainly involving atmosphere-hydrosphere interactions, and phenomena of relatively short time scale. In contrast, CIFAR’s Earth System Evolution program focuses on both short and long time scales, and considers the Earth system as a whole.

The resulting ideas have revolutionized many established beliefs. For instance, the “Snowball Earth Theory,” which says our planet was entirely covered in ice 600-700 million years ago and the theory that large-scale ice melting can actually lower sea levels in the immediate area. CIFAR scientists have also discovered the remarkable link between earthquake processes and climate - an entirely new area of study.

CIFAR’s Earth System Evolution research provides an understanding of our world and our environment, which has major implications for science and policy alike.