Automated Determination of Greenhouse Gases by gas chromatography; a lynchpin technique for nutrient sources, rates and fate in freshwaters and watersheds

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Our longstanding and successful research program on the biogeochemistry of watersheds focuses on important societal issues such as eutrophication, atmospheric deposition of contaminants, greenhouse gas emissions, drinking water security, wastewater disposal and climate change. Our specialized expertise is in the development and application of isotopic and non-isotopic tracers to provide information that cannot be gleaned from other methods. Fundamental to this endeavour is the quantitative analysis of the elements of life including nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. Here we request funding for an instrument that measures the important forms of these elements in gases dissolved in waters to gain critical information on nutrient cycling in soils, waters, wetlands and lakes in locations that range from pristine High Arctic watersheds to heavily urbanized settings. This instrument is at the heart of our analytical research laboratory and replaces a non-functioning, outdated and non-serviceable unit. The equipment will be heavily used by graduate and undergraduate students who are trained to analyze their own samples for their research on these environmental issues that are important to Canadian society.