Acquisition of a Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer for Earth Systems Science Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

0521196 Lachinet这一重大研究仪器（MRI）计划拨款为获得稳定同位素比质谱仪提供支持，该质谱仪由内华达州拉斯维加斯大学（UNLV）地球科学系的两名早期职业研究人员提交。 NSF/MRI赠款支持将用于：1）在UNLV建立有史以来第一个稳定同位素实验室（SIL），以促进正在进行的研究项目的数据生成，2）促进主要研究人员之间的同位素地球化学合作，并与跨学科的其他教师，3）促进本科生和研究生直接参与研究项目，以及4）将研究设施融入本科生和研究生的教与学。Matthew Lachniet博士和研究生的研究调查了中美洲和其他地区过去的降雨历史，使用洞穴石笋中保存的稳定氧同位素测量，这些石笋随着时间的推移不断生长，其年龄由放射性测年法确定。这些过去的降雨历史将有助于研究人员了解厄尔尼诺/南方涛动的过去变化，从而产生全球气候异常，以预测中美洲及其他地区厄尔尼诺事件的未来复发间隔。江甘青博士和研究生的研究调查了大约5亿至7亿年前“雪球地球”事件的同位素证据，当时地质证据表明地球大部分可能是冰川作用的。在联合国志愿人员办事处购置一台稳定同位素比质谱仪，将能够对样品进行内部分析，确保高的样品处理量。重要的是，SIL将使本科生和研究生有机会在UNLV学习最先进的分析技术，这将促进研究和教育融入他们的研究计划。

0521196LachinetThis Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program grant provides support for acquisition of a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, submitted by two early-career researchers in Geoscience Department at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). NSF/MRI grant support will serve to: 1) establish the first-ever Stable Isotope Laboratory (SIL) at UNLV to facilitate generation of data for ongoing research projects, 2) foster collaborations in isotope geochemistry between the principal investigators and with other faculty across disciplines, 3) promote direct undergraduate and graduate student participation in research projects, and 4) integrate the research facility into teaching and learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research by Dr. Matthew Lachniet and graduate students investigates past rainfall histories in Central America and other areas, using the stable oxygen isotope measurements preserved in cave stalagmites, which grow continuously over time and whose age is determined by radiometric dating. These past rainfall histories will help researchers understand past variations in the El Nino/Southern Oscillation, which produces global climatic anomalies, in order to predict future recurrence intervals of El Nino events in Central American and beyond. The research by Dr. Ganqing Jiang and graduate students has investigated the isotopic evidence for "Snowball Earth" events approximately 500 to 700 million years ago, when geologic evidence suggests the possibility that the majority of the Earth was glaciated. Acquisition of a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer at UNLV will permit in-house analysis of samples, ensuring high sample throughput. Importantly, the SIL will give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to learn a state-of-the-art analytical technique at UNLV, which will promote the integration of research and education into their research programs.