Short Course: Radiocarbon in Ecology and Earth System Science
- Beginn: 14.08.2023
- Ende: 18.08.2023
- Ort: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
- Gastgeber: University of California, Irvine and MPI-BGC
The short course provides a mix of guest lecturers, teaching of laboratory skills, data interpretation, and student projects. Our course is unique in its focus on carbon cycling and the direct exposure to AMS radiocarbon technology; no other class like this exists in the US. In addition to applications of 14C to terrestrial ecosystems, we discuss its application to studies of past climates, physical and biological oceanography, and atmospheric science. It is our hope with this class that radiocarbon will become a standard scientific tool available for ecosystem and Earth system research in the future, as has happened with stable isotopes.
This course will expose participants to the uses of radiocarbon in ecology and earth system science. Classroom activities provide an overview of radiocarbon in the current and past global carbon cycle, as well as in the atmosphere, oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. Hands-on laboratory activities focus on: collecting samples in the field, avoiding contamination, choosing standards and blanks, processing and analyzing samples, and interpreting data. We seek participants with broad interests in ecology and earth system science who are planning on, or are currently, using radiocarbon techniques as part of their research, and wish to expand their understanding of this important and useful tool.