National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF)
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
Abstract
Determining the isotopic composition of a breadth of environmental materials underpins our ability to constrain, track and understand a wide range of environmental science processes. Isotopes are used to determine the age of materials, constrain rates of change, integrate disparate environmental records, and assess cause/effects hypothesis. Isotopes are also used to track a range of natural and anthropogenic processes operating across the planet, from the hydrosphere to the biosphere. Isotope science requires infrastructure at the leading edge; not only physical infrastructure such as state of the art equipment and well established laboratories, but as important are the experienced facility personnel who provide the expertise, drive development, explore new areas of application, and develop systems to ensure data are accessible, interoperable and reusable. The requirements for isotopes in environmental sciences necessitates national delivery of fundamental capabilities for the following reasons: (1) A compelling community need for fundamental and complex isotope analyses; (2) Continued investment in instruments and skilled people is required to remain at forefront of world isotope science; and (3) High demand and delivery required by the UK research portfolio. Where these requirements exist, national facilities are a demonstrably cost-effective mechanism to deliver and underpin environmental science research and innovation, now and into the future.
The National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF) is an evolution of facilities that builds upon a strong track record of NERC facilities for environmental isotope analyses. This single nationally distributed facility comprises a range of analytical capabilities and staff expertise for isotope analyses that underpins an array of multidisciplinary, cross themed, environmental science areas. NEIF capabilities are subdivided into two categories: Chronology and Environmental and Life Science Tracers. Combined, these support research in the areas of biogeochemistry, archaeology, palaeoclimatology and climate change, solid Earth processes (inc. natural hazards), human-landscape evolution and interactions (inc. the Anthropocene), evolution of life, ecology, pollution, the hydrological cycle, applied minerals and energy research.
NEIF will underpin the UKs environmental research community in areas where isotope analyses are required, facilitating, supporting and encouraging the best research, technology and new ideas. The unified capabilities and expertise delivered by the NEIF are technically unique within the UK and are delivered to the highest standard and quality. NEIF will deliver against a number of key objectives: to facilitate environmental research to support the provision of training for early career researchers, to deliver innovation, and to promote awareness of NEIF capabilities, their role in environmental sciences, related NERC activities, and public outreach.
The benefits of a single national facility are that it will be ''greater than the sum of its parts''. The combined strategic nature of NEIF, with clear community input via the Strategy Group, acts as a catalyst for the areas of environmental science covered by NEIF. In addition to the direct support of projects and provision of training, the sustained support of NERC facilities has enabled their evolution to best fit the user community needs enable facility staff to deliver a longer-term perspective, identify challenges and opportunities, in order to best service the environmental science community. The NEIF represents a major evolution in the provision of isotopes capabilities and expertise for the UK research community. It will provide increased community innovation and greater scope for flexibility, whilst retaining the core purpose of underpinning UK science, in addition to hosting internationally competitive state-of-the-art capabilities critically underpinned by a vastly experienced, unique staff assemblage.
The National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF) is an evolution of facilities that builds upon a strong track record of NERC facilities for environmental isotope analyses. This single nationally distributed facility comprises a range of analytical capabilities and staff expertise for isotope analyses that underpins an array of multidisciplinary, cross themed, environmental science areas. NEIF capabilities are subdivided into two categories: Chronology and Environmental and Life Science Tracers. Combined, these support research in the areas of biogeochemistry, archaeology, palaeoclimatology and climate change, solid Earth processes (inc. natural hazards), human-landscape evolution and interactions (inc. the Anthropocene), evolution of life, ecology, pollution, the hydrological cycle, applied minerals and energy research.
NEIF will underpin the UKs environmental research community in areas where isotope analyses are required, facilitating, supporting and encouraging the best research, technology and new ideas. The unified capabilities and expertise delivered by the NEIF are technically unique within the UK and are delivered to the highest standard and quality. NEIF will deliver against a number of key objectives: to facilitate environmental research to support the provision of training for early career researchers, to deliver innovation, and to promote awareness of NEIF capabilities, their role in environmental sciences, related NERC activities, and public outreach.
The benefits of a single national facility are that it will be ''greater than the sum of its parts''. The combined strategic nature of NEIF, with clear community input via the Strategy Group, acts as a catalyst for the areas of environmental science covered by NEIF. In addition to the direct support of projects and provision of training, the sustained support of NERC facilities has enabled their evolution to best fit the user community needs enable facility staff to deliver a longer-term perspective, identify challenges and opportunities, in order to best service the environmental science community. The NEIF represents a major evolution in the provision of isotopes capabilities and expertise for the UK research community. It will provide increased community innovation and greater scope for flexibility, whilst retaining the core purpose of underpinning UK science, in addition to hosting internationally competitive state-of-the-art capabilities critically underpinned by a vastly experienced, unique staff assemblage.
Organisations
Publications
Najman Y
(2020)
The exhumation of the Indo-Burman Ranges, Myanmar
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Worne S
(2020)
Reduced upwelling of nutrient and carbon-rich water in the subarctic Pacific during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition
in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Sheldrick T
(2020)
Evidence for southward subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic plate: Implications from Mesozoic adakitic lavas from Mongolia
in Gondwana Research
Koeshidayatullah A
(2020)
Origin and evolution of fault-controlled hydrothermal dolomitization fronts: A new insight
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Waizy H
(2020)
Formation of the giant Aynak copper deposit, Afghanistan: evidence from mineralogy, lithogeochemistry and sulphur isotopes
in International Geology Review
Mondillo N
(2020)
New insights into the genesis of willemite (Zn2SiO4) from zinc nonsulfide deposits, through trace elements and oxygen isotope geochemistry
in Ore Geology Reviews
Rivai T
(2020)
The Dairi SEDEX Zn + Pb + Ag deposit (North Sumatra, Indonesia): Insights from mineralogy and sulfur isotope systematics
in Ore Geology Reviews
Fitzpatrick A
(2020)
A FACE FROM THE BRITISH IRON AGE: A DECORATED IRON AGE WEAVING COMB FROM HARWELL, OXFORDSHIRE
in Oxford Journal of Archaeology
Chiverrell R
(2020)
The evolution of the terrestrial-terminating Irish Sea glacier during the last glaciation
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Hepburn L
(2020)
The use of operationally-defined sequential Fe extraction methods for mineralogical applications: A cautionary tale from Mössbauer spectroscopy
in Chemical Geology
Kabalika Z
(2020)
Tracking animal movements using biomarkers in tail hairs: a novel approach for animal geolocating from sulfur isoscapes.
in Movement ecology
Granseth A
(2020)
Tectonomagmatic evolution of the Sveconorwegian orogen recorded in the chemical and isotopic compositions of 1070-920 Ma granitoids
in Precambrian Research
Armstrong J
(2020)
Kilometre-scale compartmentalization of fluid sources to a fossil hydrothermal system
in Ore Geology Reviews
Briddon C
(2020)
Diatoms in a sediment core from a flood pulse wetland in Malaysia record strong responses to human impacts and hydro-climate over the past 150 years
in Geo: Geography and Environment
Pienkowski G
(2020)
Non-marine carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Triassic-Jurassic transition in the Polish Basin and its relationships to organic carbon preservation, pCO2 and palaeotemperature
in Earth-Science Reviews
Pomeroy E
(2020)
New Neanderthal remains associated with the 'flower burial' at Shanidar Cave
in Antiquity
Mills WF
(2020)
Mercury exposure in an endangered seabird: long-term changes and relationships with trophic ecology and breeding success.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Panagiotopoulos K
(2020)
Insights into the evolution of the young Lake Ohrid ecosystem and vegetation succession from a southern European refugium during the Early Pleistocene
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Samperiz A
(2020)
Stylasterid corals: A new paleotemperature archive
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Rodés Á
(2020)
Cosmogenic soil production rate calculator.
in MethodsX
Emmings J
(2020)
A Mississippian black shale record of redox oscillation in the Craven Basin, UK
in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Guimarães A
(2020)
Contemporaneous intraplate magmatism on conjugate South Atlantic margins: A hotspot conundrum
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Rowe P
(2020)
Multi-proxy speleothem record of climate instability during the early last interglacial in southern Turkey
in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Crowder K
(2020)
Romans, barbarians and foederati: New biomolecular data and a possible region of origin for "Headless Romans" and other burials from Britain
in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Parnell J
(2020)
Carbon in mineralized ultramafic intrusions, caledonides, northern Britain
in Lithos
Mendelová M
(2020)
Extensive mountain glaciation in central Patagonia during Marine Isotope Stage 5
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Davies B
(2020)
The evolution of the Patagonian Ice Sheet from 35 ka to the present day (PATICE)
in Earth-Science Reviews
Tucker M
(2020)
Carbonate crusts around volcanic islands: Composition, origin and their significance in slope stability
in Marine Geology
Stewart J
(2020)
Refining trace metal temperature proxies in cold-water scleractinian and stylasterid corals
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Jones KA
(2020)
Intra-specific Niche Partitioning in Antarctic Fur Seals, Arctocephalus gazella.
in Scientific reports
Cassidy LM
(2020)
A dynastic elite in monumental Neolithic society.
in Nature
Mannella G
(2020)
Effects of organic removal techniques prior to carbonate stable isotope analysis of lacustrine marls: A case study from palaeo-lake Fucino (central Italy).
in Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
Rudolph E
(2020)
Early glacial maximum and deglaciation at sub-Antarctic Marion Island from cosmogenic 36Cl exposure dating
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Wilke T
(2020)
Deep drilling reveals massive shifts in evolutionary dynamics after formation of ancient ecosystem.
in Science advances
Wiedenbeck M
(2020)
Tourmaline Reference Materials for the In Situ Analysis of Oxygen and Lithium Isotope Ratio Compositions
in Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research
Courtney-Davies L
(2020)
OPENING THE MAGMATIC-HYDROTHERMAL WINDOW: HIGH-PRECISION U-Pb GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE MESOPROTEROZOIC OLYMPIC DAM Cu-U-Au-Ag DEPOSIT, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
in Economic Geology
Winkelbauer H
(2020)
Planktic foraminiferal I/Ca from Holocene sediments of the Pacific and Indian Ocean
Hesselbo S
(2020)
Palynological, geochemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the Early Jurassic Liasidium Event in the Cleveland Basin, Yorkshire, UK Palynological, geochemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the Early Jurassic Liasidium Event in the Cleveland Basin, Yorkshire, UK
in Newsletters on Stratigraphy
Blong J
(2020)
Younger Dryas and early Holocene subsistence in the northern Great Basin: multiproxy analysis of coprolites from the Paisley Caves, Oregon, USA
in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Biagi P
(2020)
Early Neolithic Settlement of the Po Plain (Northern Italy) Vhò and Related Sites
in Documenta Praehistorica
Broadman E
(2020)
Coupled impacts of sea ice variability and North Pacific atmospheric circulation on Holocene hydroclimate in Arctic Alaska.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
| Description | A SelFrag facility to underpin UK geoscience |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T00925X/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | A Selective Fragmentation (SELFRAG) device for liberating minerals, microfossils from rocks: more efficient, effective and safer for the UK community. |
| Amount | £293,443 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T009233/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Title | A database of NERC radiocarbon measurements determined by accelerator mass spectrometry. |
| Description | The database contains radiocarbon (14C) measurements performed using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) by the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory. Contextual information including sample type and sampling location, and associated publications are also provided |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Compilations of radiocarbon measurements performed by the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory using radiometric methods have previously been made publicly available in research papers or databases. The new database is the first collection of radiocarbon measurements performed using accelerator mass spectrometry by the laboratory. The database provides a resource for researchers to access over 2000 radiocarbon measurements. |
| Description | 50 minute presentation on the Weymouth discovery of a Viking Age burial site and how isotopes were able to look at the origins of the men found there. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk was given to the Harrington Discussion Society. I was invited back having given a talk in 2018. This is group of local who gather regularly for such discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | A 50 minute talk about the discovery and analysis of Richard III's skeleton |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A presentation to the University of the Third Age group in Keyworth. Very interesting and diverse expertise within the audience resulting in 30 - 40 minutes of questions after the talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | A 50 minute talk about the discovery and analysis of Richard III's skeleton |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk about Richard III with a geological slant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | BGS open day presentation to the general public on Richard III |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk targeted at the younger audience members aimed at showing the links between science and history |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Blog post |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Blogpost on BGS website describing the SelFrag instrument, its capabilities and future potential. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/exploding-rocks-the-uks-first-selfrag-machine/ |
| Description | Blogs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Frequent blog posts on the BGS Geoblogy site, updating on the aims of the project and the progress made with the analysis of the samples. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Cosmo2022 Scotland. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Cosmo 2022 - Scotland workshop is a continuation of the previous four events known as the Nordic Workshop on Cosmogenic Nuclides. The three-day workshop and the oneday field excursion was jointly hosted by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) and the University of Edinburgh, and held in Edinburgh, 7-9 June 2022. The workshop Comprised of a scientific programme of oral and poster contributions by members of the international cosmogenic nuclide community, discussions, short practical workshops, and an optional field excursion the last day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_845736_smxx.pdf |
| Description | Diatom isotopes demonstration as part of the British Geological Survey Open Day October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exhibit was presented at the BGS Open Day on diatoms, single-celled algae with silica (glass) shells, and how they are used in climate and environmental change research. Visitors were able to view fossil diatoms through a microscope and see their structure from 3D-printed models. Poster boards provided information on what diatoms are, their composition, their importance to us and the planet, how we utilise them in scientific research, and gave an example project (DeepCHALLA) where diatom isotopes are pivitol for providing a better understanding of past climate and its influence on patterns on human migration out of Africa. The stand engaged younger children by helping them create diatom art and plasticine models of diatoms from example images. Feedback was very positive |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Facebook Live discussion for paper in Science Advances "Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a four way moderated discussion, live on Facebook, organized by The VancePak Team Office of Public Programs (OPP) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAdvances/videos/793199927719821/. |
| Description | Geochronology activity and demonstration as part of the British Geological Survey Open Day October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 70 members of the public participated in a combined activity and demonstration around the theme of geochronology and geological time, as part of the annual British Geological Surveys public open day. The demonstration included a talk and discussion about geological time combined with the 'Corridor of Time' activity which comprised a 46 metre scaled timeline (1cm equals 1 million years) of Earth history, from human history back to the formation of the Earth and Solar System. This demonstrated the tempo of evolution and the vastness of geological time compared to human histories. This was combined with a 'Speed dating' activity where members of the public came into the mass spectrometry laboratory and we explained how we obtain absolute dates on rocks and minerals, and then they were given a chance to select a mineral for analyses then and there - the sample was a real research target that contains detrital grains with a range of ages, from ~400 to 2700 million years. Throughout the day as more minerals were dated we kept a leader board and a prize was given to the person who picked the oldest grain. The capacity of 70 participants was set by the size of the laboratory and the nature of the activity. Feedback from the participants was wholly positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |