Acquisition of a high temperature elemental analyzer for hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of waters and solids for the University of Cincinnati Stable Isotope Laboratory

为辛辛那提大学稳定同位素实验室采购一台高温元素分析仪，用于水和固体的氢和氧同位素分析

• 批准号: 2110297
• 负责人: Aaron Diefendorf
• 金额: $ 10.85万
• 依托单位: University of Cincinnati Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-09-01 至 2023-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2110297&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; temperature; elemental; analyzer; hydrogen

This award will expand the analytical capabilities of the University of Cincinnati (UC) UC Stable Isotope Laboratory by adding new instrumentation to measure the stable hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) isotopic compositions of waters and solid organics. In the past few years, the research of the UC Stable Isotope Laboratory has included more focus on the hydrologic cycle and tracking the foraging habits and mobility patterns of animals over time. This work requires measurements of H and O isotopes of waters and tissues containing proteins. Expanded in-house analytical abilities made possible by this award will support and strengthen the established research programs at our laboratory as well as make possible anticipated research directions in the areas of paleoclimatology, conservation biology, paleoecology, and organic geochemistry research. H and O isotopes in water are commonly used to address a wide array of topics in the geosciences, such as characterization of the hydrologic cycle, measuring evaporation and transpiration in plants, as well as evaporation in surface waters and soils, identifying water vapor and precipitation source, and investigating groundwater infiltration and mixing. Past records of the hydrologic cycle can be generated from proxies that indirectly record precipitation and surface water H and O. Combined, these new analytical directions will improve paleo-hydrologic reconstructions and future predictions of hydrologic change. A more complete understanding of the hydrological cycle is critical for safeguarding national health, prosperity, and welfare. Additionally, H and O isotopes in organic animal tissues can be used to track foraging behavior and movement patterns of both living and historic fauna. This information complements that provided by other isotopes like carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), as well as more traditional methods for obtaining geographical information (e.g., banding or satellite-tracking individuals). Surprisingly little is known about individual mobility or population connectivity for many highly mobile and migratory animal species (e.g., birds, butterflies), and even less is known about how stable these patterns are over time. Given the rate and scale of anthropogenic changes to most of our planet’s surface, obtaining such data is increasingly urgent. The UC Stable Isotope Laboratory currently houses two isotope ratio mass spectrometers with the ability to analyze C and N of bulk organics, C and H of specific compounds (e.g., leaf wax n-alkanes), C and O of carbonates, C and H of atmospheric methane, and H and O of water, but with poor precision. However, there are no capabilities to measure H and O of organic solids. This award will add a high temperature elemental analyzer for the analysis of H and O of solids, including organic tissues (e.g., chitin, keratin and cellulose), and provide analysis of H and O of waters with high precision. This new instrumentation will also greatly increase sample throughput and lower labor demands. It will also provide novel hands-on analytical training in three established geology classes that serve undergraduate and graduate students taught by the investigators, as well as additional analytical opportunities to support undergraduate and graduate student research. This instrument acquisition will continue to support the strong record of mentoring students (particularly women) and providing research opportunities to students both at UC and other institutions, including primarily undergraduate institutions. Lastly, the requested instrumentation will play a critical role in expanding undergraduate capstone experiences within the UC Geology Department as part of current efforts to improve program equity and inclusion. This award will support one female PhD student and the proposed work will directly support two undergraduate student research projects to develop and test standards and methods for the new equipment. The PIs will expand their existing public engagement programs on climate change by developing a science outreach program in collaboration with Geology graduate students. The initial target venue will be a local Farmer’s Market that serves a diverse urban community, but it is anticipated that the program will evolve and expand with new cohorts of graduate students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项将通过增加新仪器来测量水和固体有机物的稳定氢 (H) 和氧 (O) 同位素组成，从而扩大辛辛那提大学 (UC) 稳定同位素实验室的分析能力。加州大学稳定同位素实验室的研究更加关注水文循环，并跟踪动物随时间的觅食习惯和活动模式。这项工作需要测量含有扩展蛋白质的水和组织的 H 和 O 同位素。该奖项所带来的内部分析能力将支持和加强我们实验室已建立的研究项目，并为古气候学、保护生物学、古生态学和有机地球化学研究领域的预期研究方向提供可能。水通常用于解决地球科学中的各种主题，例如水文循环的表征、测量植物的蒸发和蒸腾、以及地表水和土壤的蒸发、识别水水蒸气和降水源，并调查地下水渗透和混合，可以从间接记录降水和地表水 H 和 O 的代理生成。结合起来，这些新的分析方向将改善古水文重建和未来预测。更全面地了解水文循环对于保障国家健康、繁荣和福利至关重要。此外，有机动物组织中的 H 和 O 同位素可用于追踪现存和历史动物的觅食行为和运动模式。这些信息补充了碳 (C) 和氮 (N) 等其他同位素以及获取地理信息的更传统方法（例如，对个体的移动性或卫星跟踪）所提供的信息。许多高度流动和迁徙的动物物种（例如鸟类、蝴蝶）的种群连通性，考虑到地球大部分地区人为变化的速度和规模，人们对这些模式随时间的稳定性知之甚少。加州大学稳定同位素实验室目前拥有两台同位素比质谱仪，能够分析大量有机物的 C 和 N、特定化合物（例如叶蜡正烷烃）的 C 和 H、C 和 H。碳酸盐的C和O，大气甲烷的C和H，水的H和O，但精度较差。但是，没有能力测量有机固体的H和O。该奖项将添加高温元素。用于分析固体（包括有机组织（例如甲壳质、角蛋白和纤维素））的 H 和 O 的分析仪，并以高精度对水中的 H 和 O 进行分析。这种新仪器还将大大提高样品通量并降低劳动力需求。它还将在三个已建立的地质学课程中提供新颖的实践分析培训，为研究人员教授的本科生和研究生提供服务，并提供额外的分析机会来支持本科生和研究生的研究。指导记录学生（特别是女性），并为加州大学和其他机构（主要包括本科院校）的学生提供研究机会。最后，作为当前改进努力的一部分，所需的仪器将在扩大加州大学地质系的本科生顶点经验方面发挥关键作用。该奖项将支持一名女博士生，拟议的工作将直接支持两个本科生研究项目，以开发和测试新设备的标准和方法，以扩大其现有的气候变化公众参与项目。与地质学毕业生合作制定科学外展计划最初的目标地点将是为多元化城市社区提供服务的当地农贸市场，但预计该计划将随着新的研究生群体的发展和扩展。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并被认为值得支持。通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。