Quaternary & Paleoclimate Research

Department of Geology & Geophysics, UW-Madison

Overview People Current Projects Publications Facilities Prospective Graduate Students Links

Cosmogenic Radionuclide Isotope Laboratory

This lab is dedicated to the processing of samples for Accelerator Mass Spectrometer analysis of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al. The lab contains 2 HF fume hoods, multiple enclosed dry down boxes, and equipment for wet chemistry (ultrasonic cleaning, HF etching and dissolution, ion-exchange column chromatography). In addition, the Geology & Geophysics Department has a new perchloric fume hood for perchloric acid digestion. Clean chemistry facilities are also available for final target preparation.

This lab is under the supervision of Dr.’s Singer and Carlson working closely with Dr. Mickelson. The Cosmogenic Lab has a long history collaboration with the PRIME AMS Laboratory at Purdue University. In addition, we have collaboration with other labs to facilitate the processing of ³⁶Cl and in situ ¹⁴C samples

Terrestrial and Marine Sediment Laboratory

Under the direction of Dr. Carlson, this laboratory is fully equipped for analysis of various sediments:

-Classical grain size analysis equipment for terrestrial and marine sediment

-Sedigraph 5100 grain size analyzer

-Bison magnetic susceptibility meter

-Carbonate analysis equipment

-2 meter settling tube

-Vibracoring device

-3 optical microscopes and light sources

-Sonicators and shaker tables

-Drying Oven

-1 microgram Analytical Balance

This lab is used for:

1) Standard grain size analysis of terrestrial and marine sediment

2) Isolation of various grain size fractions for geochemical and isotopic analysis

3) Isolation of foraminifera tests for geochemical and isotopic analysis

In addition, Dr. Kelly maintains a micropaleontology lab and a Micro Mill lab for biogenic calcite sampling

Quaternary Lab Computer Modeling Facilities

The Quaternary Lab under Dr. Carlson has state-of-the-art computing facilities for:

1) Modeling ice sheets and glaciers with thermodynamic and energy-moisture mass balance models

2) Atmospheric General Circulation Models (AGCM) (the NCAR CCM3)

3) Groundwater flow/subglacial hydrology.

Facilities include:

-2, Double, 3.0 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon Mac Pros

-1 Double Dual Core Intel Xeon Processor 5080 3.73 GHz PC Work Station

-Multiple PC’s for use with less demanding models

Additional Facilities

Bailey X-Ray Diffraction

Stable and Radiogenic Isotope Labs

Rare Gas Chronology lab

G&G department hosts an NSF funded Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Facility.