Purchase of an X-Ray Core Scanner for Research in Paleoclimatology and Global Change

0949313罗兹该奖项提供资金超过12个月，以获得X射线核心扫描仪。该机构将提供部分资金。该仪器将提供岩心和岩石样品中高分辨率、非破坏性的元素丰度。X射线荧光岩心扫描仪将被添加到X射线分析设施中。现有的X射线光谱仪和衍射仪将用于校准和与新仪器进行相互比较。PI将全面负责，而大学资助的全职技术人员将负责日常运营。将根据核心规模收取使用费，以收回成本。该工具将支持项目执行机构评估从次年度到千年一次的古环境变化的努力。记录在岩心中的气候历史将使PI更好地了解环境变化。电子探针/扫描电子显微镜设施将用于进一步研究扫描岩心，从而实现更有效和更稳健的总体样品处理方案。最终，将开发更可靠的校准和定量程序。该仪器将被纳入现有的区域设施，服务于UMAs和其他机构（阿默斯特学院，汉普郡学院，山霍利奥克学院，史密斯学院）。该扫描仪将提供给学生和教师的研究人员。它还将纳入沉积地球化学、沉积学和X射线分析技术课程。斯瓦尔巴德REU项目将立即受益于固有的社会气候变化影响。STEM外展将以环境变化评估方法为目标，这将使K-12学生受益。 ***

0949313RhodesThis award provides funding over 12 months to acquire an X-ray core scanner. The institution will provide partial funding. The instrument will provide high-resolution, non-destructive elemental abundances in core and rock samples. The XRF core scanner will be added to the X-Ray Analytical Facility. Existing X-ray spectrometers and diffractometers will be used to calibrate and intercompare with the new instrument. The PI will have overall responsibility while a full-time University-funded technician will be responsible for day-to-day operations. A user fee based on core size will be used for cost recovery. The instrument will support the PIs' efforts to assess paleoenvironmental changes at scales ranging from sub-annual to millennial. Climate histories recorded in cores will allow the PIs to better understand environmental change. The electron microprobe/scanning electron microscope facility will be used to further study scanned cores allowing a more efficient and robust overall sample processing scheme. Ultimately, more reliable calibrations and quantitative procedures will be developed. The instrument will be incorporated into an existing regional facility which serves UMAss and other institutions (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College). The scanner will be available to student and faculty researchers. It will also be incorporated into courses in sedimentary geochemistry, sedimentology and X-ray analytical tecniques. The Svalbard REU project will immediately benefit with inherent societal climate change implications. STEM outreach will target teachers with environmental change assessment approaches which will benefit K-12 students. ***