Applications of Advanced Laser Spectroscopy to the Ice Core Record of Changes in Climate and Methane Biogeochemistry

0944552/BrookThis award supports a project to develop and use a new analytical tool for ice core gas and isotope analysis based on a innovative laser spectroscopy technique.该奖项支持一个基于创新激光光谱技术的冰芯气体和同位素分析新分析工具的开发和使用项目。这些测量将与连续融化冰芯垂直部分的样品处理技术相结合，通常在这种样品处理中浪费的古代空气将被释放和分析。 拟议的工作重点是三个气候相关的测量，激光技术已经足够先进，冰芯的应用是可能的。其中包括大气浓度和甲烷的稳定同位素组成（δ 13 C和δ D），一氧化碳混合比和冰本身的同位素组成（δ D和δ 18 O）。这些选择的地球化学基本原理是甲烷混合比与北方的温度变化高度相关，并在冰芯研究中用作全球地层标志。甲烷同位素组成对于了解甲烷的源和汇以及解决有关大型海洋水合物储层稳定性的争议非常重要。一氧化碳可以与甲烷及其同位素同时测量，它参与了控制甲烷混合比的地球化学循环。水的稳定同位素是冰芯研究中过去温度的基本示踪剂。拟议的工作将为极地研究带来新的尖端技术，并进一步发展。在这方面，所提出的同位素方法特别重要，因为这些测量很难用传统方法进行，所提出的工作有可能改变冰中甲烷的同位素研究。 在其他化学测量中，测量垂直剖面连续融化期间冰芯释放的空气中的气体将节省宝贵的时间和宝贵的冰，并最终产生真实的痕量大气气体数据。 该项目将同时支持博士后研究人员和研究生，并将涉及一名新的教师，他将为学术界带来重要的行业经验。 PI将参与针对少数民族研究生的招聘工作，博士后将参与各种外展工作，包括新闻采访，电视纪录片，实验室图尔斯之旅，天才中学生的迷你课程以及与俄勒冈州科学与工业博物馆建立气候展览的新努力。

0944552/BrookThis award supports a project to develop and use a new analytical tool for ice core gas and isotope analyses based on an innovative laser spectroscopic technique. The measurements will be integrated with sample processing techniques that continuously melt vertical sections of ice core, and the ancient air that is normally wasted in such sample processing will be released and analyzed. The proposed work focuses on three climatically relevant measurements for which laser technology has sufficiently advanced that ice core applications are possible. These include the atmospheric concentration and stable isotopic composition of methane (delta 13C and delta D), the carbon monoxide mixing ratio, and the isotopic composition of the ice itself (delta D and delta 18O). The biogeochemical rationale for these choices is that methane mixing ratios are highly correlated with temperature change in the northern hemisphere and used as global stratigraphic markers in ice core studies. The methane isotopic composition is important for understanding sources and sinks of methane and addressing controversies over the stability of the large marine hydrate reservoir. Carbon monoxide, which can be measured simultaneously with methane and its isotopes, is involved in biogeochemical cycles that also control methane mixing ratios. The stable isotopes of water are basic tracers of past temperature in ice core research. The proposed work will bring new cutting-edge technology to polar research, and develop it further. The proposed isotopic methods are particularly important in this regard given that these measurements are difficult with traditional methods, the proposed work has the potential to transform isotopic studies of methane in ice. Measuring gases in air released from ice cores during continuous melting of vertical sections for other chemical measurements will save valuable time and precious ice and will ultimately generate trace atmospheric gas data in real time. The project will support both a postdoctoral researcher and a graduate student and will involve a new faculty member who is bringing significant industry experience to academia. The PIs will participate in recruitment efforts that target minority graduate students and post-docs will participate in a variety of outreach efforts, including news interviews, television documentaries, lab tours, mini-classes for gifted middle school students and a new effort with Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to build a climate exhibit.