"Ultra high-precision, field-deployable water isotopic analyzer for tracing the water cycle at high spatial and temporal resolution"

目前的应用是为了购买一台可现场部署的超高精度水同位素分析仪，以便以高空间和时间分辨率追踪水循环。历史上使用同位素比质谱仪(IRMS)分析水的同位素，这种仪器的样品吞吐量相对较慢，而且购买和维护成本很高。在过去的五年中，腔衰荡光谱(CRDS)彻底改变了地球过程的类型和可以研究的问题。现在CRDS的精度比同位素比质谱仪高得多，同时还提供了其他独特的优势：1)现场部署可靠；2)更低的样品和维护成本；3)更高的样品产量。拟议的设备将支持地球科学和工程学五个不同领域的多个研究方案：水文和水资源、第四纪地球科学、海洋学和湖泊学、天体生物学和早期地球；以及环境工程。研究项目检查了主要断层、湿地和安第斯冰川周围的流体流动；上一次冰川周期中的冰川-海洋相互作用；气候变化对北冰洋的影响；极端天体生物类似栖息地和早期地球；以及污染场地的修复。对于主要申请者来说，设备对于实现我的第一份NSERC发现拨款申请中描述的目标#2是必不可少的。此外，与七个多学科项目合作将显著扩大我的研究项目的范围、影响和生产率。这些设备不会取代现有设备，也不会在魁北克或安大略省东部的任何机构提供。它将被安置在麦吉尔大学土木工程系的环境工程实验室。预计利用率将非常高(每年约250天)，在未来五年内将有8个研究项目和约60个总部基地使用该设备。拟议的设备将极大地推动和加速蒙特利尔同位素界的研究能力，并使其能够审查科学和工程五个领域的新的重要问题。

The present application is for the purchase of an ultra high-precision, field-deployable water isotopic analyzer for tracing the water cycle at high spatial and temporal resolution. Water isotopes were historically analyzed using isotope-ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) which have relatively slow sample throughput and are costly to purchase and maintain. In the last five years, cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) have revolutionized the type of earth processes and problems that can be examined. Now CRDS have a considerably higher precision than isotope-ratio mass spectrometers while offering other distinct advantages: 1) robustly field-deployable; 2) lower sample and maintenance costs; and 3) higher sample throughputs. Multiple research programs in five distinct areas of the geosciences and engineering will be supported by the proposed equipment: hydrology and water resources, Quaternary geoscience, oceanography and limnology, astrobiology and early earth; and environmental engineering. Research programs examine fluid flow around major faults, wetlands and Andean glaciers; glacier-ocean interactions during the last glacial cycle; the impact of climate change on Arctic Ocean; extreme astrobiological analogue habitats and early earth; and contaminated site remediation. For the primary applicant the equipment is essential to achieving objective #2 described in my first NSERC Discovery grant application. Additionally, collaborating with the seven multidisciplinary programs will significantly increase the scope, impact and productivity of my research program. The equipment is not replacing existing equipment or available at any institution in Quebec or eastern Ontario. It will be housed at the Environmental Engineering laboratory in the Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University. The degree of utilization is expected to be very high (~250 days per year) with eight research programs and ~60 HQP using the equipment over the next five years. The proposed equipment will significantly propel and accelerate the research capability of the isotopic community in Montreal as well as enable the examination of new and important questions in five domains of the sciences and engineering.