Funding system and key research areas for the geophysics and space physics discipline

<p indent="0mm">Geophysics, space physics, and geodesy are fundamental disciplines that apply theories and methods from physics and other relevant subjects, combined with observations, experiments, and numerical simulations, to understand the structure, operation, and evolution laws of the Earth, planets, and interplanetary space. Such discipline was embryonated in ancient times, preliminarily formed during the 16th–20th century, rapidly developed in the mid to late 20th century, and deeply coupled with other disciplines in the 21st century. Its development accompanies the human civilization progress, and has made outstanding contributions to expanding human cognition of nature, exploring and developing resources, and preventing and reducing natural disasters. In order to target the strategic goal of building a strong technological country by 2035 and implement the top-level design of disciplinary development during the 15th Five-Year-Plan period, the discipline of geophysics and space physics has systematically sorted out the funding system and key area layout, according to both the scientific frontiers and major national strategic needs. Based on the meaning, role, and current state of development of the discipline, combined with relevant planning and deployment, we preliminarily suggest seven key funding areas for this discipline, which are respectively (1) the transparent exploration and modeling of Earth’s interior, (2) formation and evolution of the Moon and planets, (3) space weather mechanism, modeling, and forecast, (4) earthquake mechanism and disaster chain, (5) intelligent detection of underground resources and energy, (6) spatiotemporal datum and comprehensive PNT (Positioning Navigation Timing), and (7) Earth systems and the interior-exterior linkage mechanisms. Among them, the 1–2 key areas are subject to the frontier of international scientific issues, the 3–6 key areas target the major national needs, and the 7th key area belongs to interdisciplinary fields. Generally speaking, China is at the forefront international level in areas such as the fine structure exploration of Earth’s core and mantle, space environment of the Moon and planets, composition and evolution of planets, space weather mechanism and modeling, characteristics of fault zone activity, earthquake prediction, physical mechanisms of high temperature and high pressure rocks, Beidou navigation enhancement technology, intelligent monitoring of major engineering projects, and is on par with the international level in areas such as the dynamic evolution process of the Earth’s interior, atmospheric structure and evolution, fault system dynamics, earthquake triggering mechanism, strong earthquake disaster model, deep mineral resource detection and identification, nonlinear motion process of the Earth, gravity measurement and gravity field modeling, vertical benchmark unification, comprehensive navigation and timing of the sky, Earth, and sea. However, there is still a gap between China and the international first-class level in the areas such as the internal material composition of the Earth, internal structure of planets, ice satellite oceans, space weather forecasting, earthquake nucleation theory and dynamic monitoring, mechanism and warning technology of strong earthquake, low-orbit satellite navigation, research and development of intelligent surveying equipment, space environment response to volcanic eruptions, extraterrestrial events driving Earth’s evolution, artificial intelligence empowering Earth system science, and the Earth’s big data share. Currently, the discipline of geophysics and space physics is facing many opportunities from national strategic guidance, new technological revolution, and industrial transformation, as well as unprecedented complexity and challenges. Traditional paradigms are no longer able to meet the development of this discipline. Therefore, this discipline must undergo paradigm shift in scientific concepts and methodologies, seize opportunities, achieve key breakthroughs and high-quality development, and finally provide strong support for the construction of China’s science and technology power. With the support of national policies and dedicated projects, this discipline is expected to have a leapfrog development, achieve key breakthroughs, and finally rank among the top international levels during the 15th Five-Year-Plan period.