Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration
How do life, water and energy interact between the Earth’s vast subsurface and surface environments?
How does expanding our thinking beyond Earth’s surface processes, to seize the challenge of 3D (investigating the subsurface on a global scale, rather than predominantly compartmentalized “site specific” investigations related to a specific mine, a given hydrocarbon-rich deposit, or a particular aquifer, ore deposit, or disposal site); and the challenge of 4D (by incorporating the full 4 billion year planetary timescale), challenge our existing paradigms and provide new insights to advance both fundamental and applied understanding of our planet and the universe?
The powerful themes of Earth4D (Water, Life, Space and Time) inspire our program and coalesce to inform our understanding of “Habitability and Energy”. This broad motif is tackled on multiple different levels across a spectrum ranging from: fundamental Earth Science, Biology and Geomicrobiology, including:
- Origins of Life (what are the novel processes that sustain microbial/fungal/viral communities in the Earth’s subsurface; how does water sustain life in these “hidden” settings; how do those sources of energy and metabolic function vary across time and space, and between the subsurface and surface);
- Fundamental Earth, Space and Planetary Science (what are the previous under-estimated modes of habitability that may have supported extinct or extant life on rocky planets like Mars or Ocean Worlds; how does understanding of Earth’s sediments, geomorphology and seismicity influence understanding habitability and energy distributions for life on other planets over time; how does studying Earth analogs inform models of habitability of Ocean Worlds).
Unlike any other group we know of, ours focuses on the “Habitability and Energy” question from the perspective of human society, particularly on the challenges of the energy transition and climate change. This uniting theme across all of Earth4D is reflected in the team’s work on topics such as: novel energy sources (including H2, He and critical minerals); the implications for exploration and development of energy resources, including the need for safe waste disposal (nuclear, CO2 or H2 storage); and the resulting “porosity race” to balance use of the subsurface with the need to protect and where necessary remediate, clean water resources and sustain biodiversity. Our group is deeply involved in research in a range of community-based science and engagement, including in the Arctic and in the Global South. There is a deep understanding that change, rates of change, and viable solutions to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and provide sustainable energy sources will be very different between urban and rural areas, between the north and the south, and between large population centres located close to major transport vectors and more isolated communities and industries. In addition to using the lessons of the planet to understand the foundational science described above, Earth4D is increasingly focusing on looking forward – to develop the understanding, models and predictive capabilities to investigate these questions in the context of rapid climate change.
IMPACT CLUSTERS
The Earth 4D program is part of the following CIFAR Impact Clusters: Exploring Emerging Technologies and Nurturing a Resilient Earth. CIFAR’s research programs are organized into 5 distinct Impact Clusters that address significant global issues and are committed to fostering an environment in which breakthroughs emerge.
RESEARCH AND SOCIETAL IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Integrating Earth, Mars and planetary exploration with programmatic vision
The research expertise in planetary sciences, habitability and astrobiology within E4D means that multiple program members provided important direction and input to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 800-page report Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032. This planning and policy document sets the 10-year plan and priorities for NASA research and missions based on the most compelling scientific questions in the field for the decade ahead and influences international science and engineering through partnerships with ESA, CSA, JAXA and other space agencies. Major areas of focus within E4D include planetary mission science to investigate habitability and astrobiology on Mars, Titan, Enceladus, as well as asteroids and exoplanets. This also includes understanding the role and presence of water on other planets and moons and the climate and atmospheric evolution and history on various planetary bodies. Close integration of Earth-analog science allows our group to compare planetary evolution, including changes in atmosphere, climate, energy and habitability within the solar system and beyond.
New resources critical to the energy transition
E4D focuses on both the fundamental understanding of the subsurface, including novel chemical reactions that drive the production of helium and hydrogen, often associated with groundwater rich in elements such as lithium, all of which are critical to the energy future. Members study resources across water, energy, and critical minerals, and work with policy and impact collaborators to predict and mitigate the effects of global climate change. One such example is the report Natural hydrogen: future energy and resources, which provides a major policy report and briefing for the United Kingdom Government outlining the potential for a new direction in green energy and decarbonization based on natural hydrogen. These are critical steps forward, as the transition to more sustainable resources is essential to society’s pressing need to achieve net zero. Both fundamental and applied research explore the profound implications of radiogenic subsurface chemistry for groundwater dating, a better understanding of groundwater resources, proposed deep geologic repositories for carbon, hydrogen, or nuclear waste storage and the role this chemistry plays in supporting novel microbial communities in the subsurface.
New frontiers in subsurface microbiology, carbon and water cycle impacts of changing geomorphology, hydrology and permafrost
E4D continues to apply the core theme of Water, Life, Space (Energy) and Time to explore the biodiversity of the Earth’s subsurface microbiology on both the continents and in the ocean lithosphere. Team members also extend their discoveries to investigate the microbial ecology of subsurface dry permafrost in Antarctica and the Mackenzie River Delta in the Arctic, including expanding vision to include fungal as well as microbial life investigations. This work is not only relevant to the impact of climate change on this critical component of the hydrosphere, but has implications for how we understand life on our planet and how we may search for life in future Mars missions to similar cold and arid regolith soils, as well as to the Ocean Worlds of Enceladus, Europa and Titan
Grappling with major changes in the water cycle and the surface water-groundwater interaction
E4D works at the forefront of understanding the planet’s water cycle and its intersection with the carbon cycle and all of the planet’s life forms. In areas of environment and energy, E4D has continued to expand its collective thinking to assess the role of hydrogeology in a world transitioning its energy resources and needs in response to global change. Activities include research into fluid transport and groundwater age to address the many economic, environmental and societal challenges involved in water management and quality, mineral resources, critical minerals expansion, carbon and hydrogen subsurface storage and proposed nuclear waste repositories. The interaction of the surface and subsurface hydrosphere remains a major area of investigation, including changing patterns in global groundwater recharge in response to climate change and the amplification of hydrological extremes critical to human settlement, industry and economy, ecosystem preservation and food and population security.
Path to Societal Impact
E4D’s research and discoveries focus on subsurface energy resources and the connection to life on Earth. Investigations within this program seek to tackle emerging transitions in Earth’s energy economy and the challenges of climate change and adaptation by better understanding novel resources (helium, hydrogen, lithium), hydrogen storage, mineral resources, carbon sequestration and protection of the surface and subsurface environment and groundwater resources. The discoveries have implications for defining resources for space missions, and for understanding the origin and evolution of microbial and other life on Earth over time. Activities focus on fundamental discoveries about the nature and biodiversity of subsurface life and novel energy-producing processes from water-rock interaction, to tackling effects of rapid climate change, including permafrost impacts, hydrogeologic impacts and the green energy transition. Many of these activities require strong partnerships with society, industry and government working together to extend the societal impact of E4D.
AI tools to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation.
E4D’s focus on the carbon and water cycle places it at the nexus of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Working with AI researchers, an initiative within E4D seeks to investigate climate-driven changes in precipitation and recharge patterns and their impact on groundwater storage (including permafrost). One example of recent work focused on the Impacts of Changing Climate on Water Resources and Fisheries for communities – both in the Arctic and in southern Ontario – working to develop AI tools to allow communities to understand and apply resource decision-making regarding water extraction from wells, and fish-take limitations. A regional planner could ask: if we approve a data centre permit with conditional water-use limits, what happens to the aquifer during a drought year – and what if three more applications follow? A conservation authority could test whether tiered pricing or quantity caps do a better job of protecting ecological assets such as fisheries.
Founded In
2019, 2026
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Earth & Planetary Sciences
Geology
Environmental Science
Policy and Environmental Equity
Geochemistry (including isotope geochemistry and bio-geochemistry)
Astrobiology
Geobiology
Hydrogeology
Microbiology
Earth Resources and Energy transition
Climate Change and Adaptation
Lithosphere-Biosphere-Atmosphere-Hydrosphere interactions
Planetary and environmental modelling
Minerology
Astronomy
Planetary evolution
Contact
Fellows & Advisors
Program Directors
Timothy Goudge
Program Co-Director
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Barbara Sherwood Lollar
Program Co-Director
Fellows
Chris Ballentine
Fellow
Morgan L. Cable
Associate Fellow
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Steven D'Hondt
Fellow
Jacqueline Goordial
Fellow
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Heather Graham
Fellow
Michael Manga
Fellow
Jennifer McIntosh
Fellow
Bénédicte Ménez
Fellow
Université de Paris
Victoria J. Orphan
Fellow
Magdalena R. Osburn
Fellow
Nita Sahai
Fellow
Nigel J.T. Smith
Fellow
Vlada Stamenkovic
Fellow
Richard G. Taylor
Fellow
Advisors
Fumio Inagaki
Advisor
Jeffrey McDonnell
Advisor
John Mustard
Advisory Committee Chair
Gordon "Oz" Osinski
Advisor
CIFAR Global Scholars
Peter Crockford
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Élise Devoie
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
Melisa Diaz
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Jacqueline Goordial
Fellow
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Timothy Goudge
Program Co-Director
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Jihua Hao
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2021-2023
Mang Lin
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
Oliver Warr
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Vashan Wright
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025
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