Facilities Support: Amino Acid Geochronology Laboratory

0929415考夫曼该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助。 赠款将支持北方亚利桑那大学氨基酸外消旋地质年代学实验室（AAGL）的持续运作。 生物体死亡后氨基酸的外消旋与死亡后经过的时间和反应环境的温度成比例。 因此，AAR地质年代学提供了一种工具来确定化石遗骸的年代，可以推断环境的温度历史，或者如果样品的年龄是独立确定的，则可以进行古温度测量（例如，放射性碳测年法）。 样品分析是快速和廉价的，样品大小的要求是最小的，允许个别微体化石的年代，例如。 AAR测年的研究应用范围从古海洋学调查到无脊椎动物进化的研究。 AAR填补了一个重要的利基，我们的能力，超过45 ka的限制或放射性碳测年沉积物（AAR可用于回到约。150 ka）。 此外，该技术可用于日期，在相对意义上说，个别微体化石的混合组合，因此有助于解开生物扰动的海洋和湖泊沉积物的古环境历史。 使用AAR测年法的研究结果对地球主要变化的时间提供了限制？气候的变化，从而帮助我们更好地了解人类活动对地球的潜在影响？的气候系统。 对该设施的支持将导致在北方亚利桑那大学继续雇用一名全职技术人员。

0929415KaufmanThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Granted funds will support continued operation of the Amino Acid Racemization Geochronology Laboratory (AAGL) at Northern Arizona University. Racemization of amino acids following the death of an organism is proportional to time elapsed since death and the temperature of the reaction environment. AAR geochronology therefore provides a tool to date fossil remains for which the temperature history of the environment can be inferred or for paleothermometry if the age of the sample is determined independently (e.g., radiocarbon dating). Sample analysis is rapid and inexpensive and sample size requirements are minimal, allowing for dating of individual microfossils, for example. Research applications of AAR dating range from paleoceanographic investigations to studies of invertebrate evolution. AAR fills an important niche in our ability to date sediments beyond the 45 ka limit or radiocarbon dating (AAR can used back to ca. 150 ka). In addition, the technique can be used to date, in a relative sense, individual microfossils in mixed assemblages and therefore assist in unraveling the paleoenvironmental history of bioturbated marine and lacustrine sediments. Results from research that employs AAR dating provides constraints on the timing of major shifts in Earth?s climate and thus helps us to better understand the potential consequences of human activities on Earth?s climate system. Support for this facility will result in the continued employment of a full time technician at Northern Arizona University.