​Faculty and students conduct research that contributes to our understanding of the earth and atmosphere using a variety of instruments and facilities, including:

Meteorology


  • Three surface weather stations (1 Campbell Scientific and 2 Davis)
  • A weather balloon launching system (InterMet)
  • Two high-performance servers which provide real-time data and run a real-time computer forecast model
  • An 18 screen electronic map wall displaying real-time weather observations and forecasts
  • 24 station computer lab with Windows & Linux for use of numerous meteorological software packages (including AWIPS2)
  • An 80" electronic whiteboard for classroom instruction

Geology and Environmental Science
  • Research microscopes coupled with digital cameras and two universal stages
  • Freezing-heating Linkam stage for fluid inclusion analysis from -196°C to 600°C
  • Ion Chromatographs for the analysis of trace level contaminants in water including a Dionex 1100/2100 for simultaneous analysis of cations and anions 
  • Ground Penetrating Radar with a 200 MHz antenna and a Worden gravimeter to study the subsurface
  • 8 Channel Supersting Electrical Resistivity unit for near surface geophysics
  • Decagon loggers with PAR, soil moisture/soil temperature sensors
  • Lysimeters and soil water samplers
  • Pressure transducers with conductivity sensors and data loggers for aquifer characterization, subsurface and surface water monitoring
  • ADV open channel velocity profiler (3-D)
  • A Ford F150 truck and two 11-passenger vans for research and class field trips
  • Rock preparation room including rock saws, grinders, and mills

The Speciation – Traces – Analysis – Radioisotopes Lab


The STAR Lab offers the following analytical facilities and is located at the Center for Applied Research and Technology, 5 minutes from the EAS department: 

  • 6 fume hoods for extraction methods used in geochemistry: AVS, Fe extractions, pyrite
  • UV-vis spectrophotometer (Thermo)
  • Freeze-drier (SP scientific)
  • DOC analyzer (Shimadzu) 
  • A unique reverse-osmosis system to concentrate DOM
  • A new certified trace metal clean room composed of 3 spaces: anteroom, analytical room, and ultra clean room
  • The anteroom contains a fume hood for acid baths and sink and bench to clean all the materials used in the ultra clean room.
  • The analytical room is equipped with a new ICP-MS (iCAPq quadrupole, Thermo) and an auto-sampler (ESI FAST). In addition, a new Ion Chromatography (IC) system (ICS-5000 Thermo) with 2 injection lines, equipped with a diode array spectrophotometer, electroconductivity detection system, pH meter, and autosampler. The IC can be coupled with the ICP-MS for determining trace metal speciation.
  • An ultrapure water system (Millipore), a laminar hood for trace metal work (Nuaire) allowing the manipulation of sensitive samples and preventing contamination, and a fume hood (Nuaire), used for acid digestion and equipped with Teflon vials, Teflon beakers, Teflon watches, Teflon hot plates, and a Teflon distillation unit, are in the ultra clean room.
  • An anaerobic chamber (COY inc.)
  • A gamma counter spectrometer (Ortec) for measuring low levels of radioisotopes (210Pb, 137Cs).
  • Gravity corer
  • Extruder
  • Van Dorn bottle for trace metal sampling