<strong>INSTAAR</strong> LaboratoriesAmino Acid LaboratoryThe laboratory specializes in the extraction and quantification<strong>of</strong> amino acids that are derived from indigenous proteinaceousresidues preserved in biominerals for a range <strong>of</strong>environmental applications. Both quantitative amino acidcomposition and extent <strong>of</strong> racemization <strong>of</strong> several differentamino acids are targeted. The facility includes two HP-11<strong>00</strong>automated high-pressure liquid chromatographs (HPLCs)and ancillary support equipment. Usually one HPLC runs inreverse-phase mode and the other in ion-exchange mode.The laboratory currently focuses on the kinetics <strong>of</strong> aminoacid racemization in the eggshells <strong>of</strong> large flightless birdsfrom Australia, Madagascar, and Africa, and bivalve mollusksfrom high-latitude regions. The laboratory director isGifford Miller, with day-to-day operations overseen byStephen DeVogel. Graduate and undergraduate students usethe laboratory in their research projects and to gain researchexperience.AMS Radiocarbon Preparationand Research LaboratoryIn-house research focuses on method development in AMS14 C preparation and dating, calibration <strong>of</strong> the radiocarbontime scale, reconstruction <strong>of</strong> atmospheric and oceanic14 C activity in the past, and ultra-precise measurement <strong>of</strong>14 CO2 in the contemporary atmosphere. This laboratory isunder the direction <strong>of</strong> Scott Lehman.Atmospheric ResearchLaboratoryThis laboratory houses instrumentation for research onatmospheric chemistry, transport, and surface-atmospheretrace gas fluxes. This lab is heavily involved in field researchat continental, midlatitude sites as well as in the polarregions. The studies in snow-<strong>cover</strong>ed environments focuson the role <strong>of</strong> snow on surface fluxes <strong>of</strong> important atmospherictrace gases. A monitoring station on Pico Mountainin the Azores is equipped with a hydrocarbon monitor forinvestigations on the long-range transport <strong>of</strong> air pollutionacross the Atlantic Ocean. Another emphasis is the analysis<strong>of</strong> volatile organic compounds (VOC), in particular emissions<strong>of</strong> biogenic VOC from vegetation. Measurements aremade by solid adsorbent sampling techniques, thermaldesorption instruments, and several gas chromatographswith different detection systems, including flame ionizationand mass spectrometry. The global distribution <strong>of</strong> nonmethanehydrocarbons is investigated by analysis <strong>of</strong> airsamples that are collected within the framework <strong>of</strong> theNOAA Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Network.Another project involves deployment <strong>of</strong> eddy correlationflux instrumentation on the NOAA Ron Brown researchvessel for investigations on the uptake <strong>of</strong> ozone to theoceans. The Atmospheric Research Lab also pursuesresearch on boundary-layer dynamics and the vertical distribution<strong>of</strong> chemical species by vertical pr<strong>of</strong>ile measurementsusing a tethered balloon platform with various balloonbornemeteorological and chemical sensors. The laboratorydirector is Detlev Helmig.A flux experiment on loblolly pine trees, Duke Forest, NC, August2<strong>00</strong>5. <strong>INSTAAR</strong>’s Atmospheric Research Laboratory has beenstudying the emission <strong>of</strong> sesquiterpene compounds and theireffects on atmospheric aerosol production. Sesquiterpenes are biogenicorganic semi-volatile compounds released from vegetationfoliage. Photo: John Ortega (<strong>INSTAAR</strong>).Biogeochemistry Laboratories<strong>INSTAAR</strong> houses four laboratories that collectively areequipped to handle many <strong>of</strong> the major analytical techniquesin modern biogeochemistry. Chemical analyses <strong>of</strong> carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus and multiple other elements inplants, soils, and water are routinely performed, as are avariety <strong>of</strong> microbial assays, a suite <strong>of</strong> chemical and opticalmeasurements <strong>of</strong> dissolved organic carbon, and GC- orIRGA-based measurements <strong>of</strong> several biogeochemically relevantgases. Beyond basic extraction and sample processingfacilities, major instrumentation includes (but is not limitedto): an autoanalyzer for N and P, atomic adsorption analyzerfor cations and metals, Carlo-Erba CHN analyzer, benchtopspectrophotometers and fluorometers, TOC/TN analyzers,and a TCD/FID gas chromatograph. The laboratories aresplit into individual direction by several <strong>INSTAAR</strong> faculty(McKnight, Townsend, Cleveland, Williams, and Seastedt)but function as a collaborative unit in many ways, includingin graduate research and education. They are consistentlyused by graduate students from <strong>INSTAAR</strong> and multipleother units across campus.16 | RESEARCH MISSION
Wendy Roth (<strong>INSTAAR</strong>) explains the process <strong>of</strong> analyzing marine sediment cores to a group <strong>of</strong> studentsfrom Southern Hills Middle School, <strong>INSTAAR</strong> Open House, April 2<strong>00</strong>6. Roth is holding an image <strong>of</strong>foraminifera, microscopic single-celled organisms whose shells are important recorders <strong>of</strong> past climatechange. Photo: Casey A. Cass (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Colorado).Core Processing LaboratoryThis room is equipped for splitting, photographing, colorlogging, describing, sampling, and measuring magneticproperties <strong>of</strong> sediment cores. Sinks are available for wetsieving samples for preparation <strong>of</strong> microscopic analysis orother needs. The facility is intended for use in analysis <strong>of</strong>terrestrial, lake, and marine cores. There are two analyticalbalances available for weighing samples, a small oven, cartsfor transporting cores and samples, and plenty <strong>of</strong> counterspace. The lab is equipped with a McCrone mill for grindingsamples for X-ray diffraction analysis and has two PCsdedicated for processing XRD runs. John Andrews, GiffordMiller, Anne Jennings, Tom Marchitto, Jim Dixon, and theirpostdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate studentsare the principal users <strong>of</strong> this facility.Dendrochronology LaboratoryResearch in this laboratory concerns the use <strong>of</strong> dated, annualtree rings to investigate past climatic and environmentalconditions. The laboratory is fully equipped for preparing,dating, and measuring tree-ring widths for dendrochronlogicalstudies. The laboratory is under the direction <strong>of</strong> ConnieWoodhouse (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Arizona, <strong>INSTAAR</strong> affiliate) withLaboratory Manager Jeff Lukas.Dissolved Organic MatterLaboratoryThis laboratory specializes in measuring the amount andcharacter <strong>of</strong> dissolved organic matter from diverse ecosys-tems. Major equipment includes Shimadzu TOC analyzer,Antec 9<strong>00</strong>0 DON analyzer, Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer,FluroMax2 fluorometer, fractionation columns, andUlter-filtration. Mark Williams and Diane McKnight are incharge <strong>of</strong> the laboratory.Ecosystems LaboratoryThis laboratory is a sample preparation and microscopyfacility for the identification and counting <strong>of</strong> algae, invertebrates,and plant material in samples from soils, lakes, andstreams collected for the Niwot Ridge and McMurdo SoundLTER projects and from studies <strong>of</strong> acid mine drainagestreams in Colorado. The laboratory is supervised by DianeMcKnight and is used by students and researchers involvedin the LTER projects.Environmental Computingand Imaging FacilityThe ECI Facility, directed by James Syvitski, allows <strong>INSTAAR</strong>researchers to conduct numerically intensive modeling anddata manipulation, including geologic, hydrologic, andoceanographic modeling, statistical analysis <strong>of</strong> national toglobal databases, and GIS terrain analysis. The main computersare SUN servers <strong>of</strong>fering 16 1 GHz SPARC Ultra 4CPUs, with 48 GB RAM, and >5 TB <strong>of</strong> usable hard drivespace across multiple RAID setups, supporting a distributedfiberoptic 20-terminal SunRay system. Multiple levels <strong>of</strong>daily backup, and monthly archives employ a SUN DLT IVtape drive. The ECI Facility is a climate-controlled restricted-RESEARCH MISSION | 17
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