Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Southern California received a $130,832 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (Geosciences program, CFDA 47.050) effective October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This collaborative research project characterizes and quantifies carbon sequestration processes across the Andean convergent margin to advance understanding of the deep carbon cycle at subduction zones. The research addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding how carbon and volatile elements are transferred between Earth's interior and exterior through plate tectonics, with specific focus on mineralogical carbon sequestration (calcite and aragonite precipitation) and biological carbon uptake in the overriding plate crust along the geologically well-studied Andean convergent margin, particularly in the Central Volcanic Zone.

The project deliverables include research findings on the efficiency and extent of carbon sequestration mechanisms that have been previously masked from the deep carbon mass balance calculations, international collaboration with Chilean research colleagues, and support for graduate student training and research participation. The work will generate data and analysis that refine current understanding of volatile transfer efficiency at subduction zones and the overall carbon balance between subducting slab inputs and arc volcano degassing outputs. The project also includes an international workshop component to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaborative research advancement in this critical area of geoscience research.