Enabling scientific discovery through stable isotope analysis
Research
Research projects in the IsoLab are primarily focused on the application of stable isotopes to the study of paleoenvironments and the evolution of the earth system.
Greenland snow pit
Snow pit in Greenland

We use water isotope (δD and δ18O) data from ice cores to document past climate changes.

We trace changes in atmsopheric chemistry using oxygen isotope (Δ17O) data from reactive nitrogen and sulfur compounds.

Triassic Jurassic Boundary, BC, Canada
Triassic/Jurassic boundary, BC, Canada.


We examine the signature of mass extinction events using carbon isotope (δ13C) data in sedimentary rocks.

We measure carbon and oxygen isotopes of carbonates and sulfur isotopes from the oldest of rocks.

Greenland old conglomerate
Old Conglomerate,Greenland


Please visit the Publications section for suggested readings.

What do the symbols δ and Δ mean?
These symbols are the lower case and capital greek letter delta. We use the lower case delta (δ) to indicate the ratio of heavy to light isotope relative to the same ratio of a standard. For example, the 13C to 12C ratio of some sample material relative to the 13C to 12C ratio of some internationally recongnized standard. The capital delta (Δ) is used to show to difference of a δ17O sample from the accepted mass dependent value of 0.52*δ18O.