Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

aeolian dust. The second traces dust signals from the Chineseloess to marine sediments in the North Pacifi c, and the thirdinvestigates how dust signals from different regions of the worldmight be connected.sediment magnetic signal varies between Asian interior dustsources and their eventual deposition in the North Pacifi c,the team has worked on the origin of magnetic signatures insoil environments.Making a big impressionThe results are impressive. For instance, Dr Liu found that themagnetic properties of haematite and goethite vary largelywith respect to aluminium content. He also discovered that themagnetic enhancement of samples crossing a palaeoclimatictransition at the intensifi cation of major Northern Hemisphereglaciation (2.7 million years ago) was not due to variations in theabundance of ice-rafted debris deposited. Rather, it resultedfrom a higher concentration of fi ne-grained particles caused byincreased aridity of the Asian continent and intensifi ed globalatmospheric circulation during the late Pliocene epoch.The results highlight the important role of dust deposition incontrolling the magnetic characteristics of sediment in thesub-Arctic Northwest and central North Pacifi c Ocean. Finally,to better understand palaeoclimate variations and how theMoving onDr Liu believes his career prospects have defi nitely beengiven a boost by the Marie Curie programme. Thanks tothe active support of host professors Andrew P. Robertsand Eelco Rohling, his background in rock magnetismcombined with the knowledge of marine science gleanedfrom his fellowship mean he has now become a specialistin marine magnetism.Much has happened to the doctor since his fellowship ended.‘As a result of Marie Curie, I obtained a replacement teachingposition at NOCS, and later a permanent position as professor atthe Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academyof Sciences. Since returning home, I have established a“rock and environmental magnetism” laboratory and myown research group,’ he acknowledges.202