Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility
Lead Research Organisation:
NERC British Geological Survey
Abstract
The NERC Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) in East Kilbride was established in 2004 to provide cosmogenic radionuclide analytical facilities to the United Kingdom scientific community. Analysis of the long-lived cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl provided by the CIAF can be used to determine surface exposure ages and denudation rates on timescales of 103 - 106 years, which yield fundamental information about rates of landscape evolution. Cosmogenic nuclide inventories also contribute fundamental information towards understanding paleoclimates and climate system studies, tracing oceanic circulation, and assessing natural hazards, which tie into the sustainability of local, regional, and global economies. These areas are central to the Strategic Science Themes (Climate System, Natural Hazards, and Earth System Science) and Research Areas (Earth Science, Marine Science, and Polar Science) underpinning current and future NERC strategy. Located on the same site as the NERC Recognised Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Facility at SUERC , the CIAF’s purpose is to produce chemically separated samples for measurement by AMS and to provide final results from AMS analysis. The establishment of this facility recognises the rapidly growing demand for cosmogenic isotope data from researchers in geomorphology, Quaternary science, and allied areas of the Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Publications
Clark J
(2006)
Cosmogenic 10Be chronology of the last deglaciation of western Ireland, and implications for sensitivity of the Irish Ice Sheet to climate Change
in Geological Society of America Bulletin
Schnabel C
(2007)
Inter-comparison in 10Be analysis starting from pre-purified quartz
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Maden C
(2007)
SUERC AMS ion detection
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Freeman S
(2007)
The SUERC AMS laboratory after 3 years
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Atarashi-Andoh M
(2007)
129I/127I ratios in surface waters of the English Lake District
in Applied Geochemistry
Basu S
(2007)
Galactic-cosmic-ray-produced 3He in a ferromanganese crust: any supernova 60Fe excess on earth?
in Physical review letters
Schnabel C
(2007)
129I/127I ratios in Scottish coastal surface sea water: Geographical and temporal responses to changing emissions
in Applied Geochemistry
Wilson P
(2008)
Stone run (block stream) formation in the Falkland Islands over several cold stages, deduced from cosmogenic isotope ( 10 Be and 26 Al) surface exposure dating
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Roberts D
(2008)
The deglacial history of southeast sector of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Hein A
(2009)
Middle Pleistocene glaciation in Patagonia dated by cosmogenic-nuclide measurements on outwash gravels
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Fenton C
(2009)
Evaluation of cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne production rates in olivine and pyroxene from two Pleistocene basalt flows, western Grand Canyon, AZ, USA
in Quaternary Geochronology
Roberts D
(2009)
Ice sheet extent and early deglacial history of the southwestern sector of the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Ballantyne C
(2009)
Exposure dating and reinterpretation of coarse debris accumulations ('rock glaciers') in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Di Nicola L
(2009)
Determination of chlorine concentrations in whole rock: Comparison between prompt-gamma activation and isotope-dilution AMS analysis
in Quaternary Geochronology
Ballantyne C
(2009)
Readvance of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet during Greenland Interstade 1 (GI-1): the Wester Ross Readvance, NW Scotland
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Nissen E
(2009)
The late Quaternary slip-rate of the Har-Us-Nuur fault (Mongolian Altai) from cosmogenic 10Be and luminescence dating
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Dale C
(2009)
Osmium isotopes in Baffin Island and West Greenland picrites: Implications for the 187Os/188Os composition of the convecting mantle and the nature of high 3He/4He mantle
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
CLARK J
(2009)
10 Be chronology of the last deglaciation of County Donegal, northwestern Ireland
in Boreas
Glasser N
(2009)
Tropical glacier fluctuations in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru between 12.5 and 7.6ka from cosmogenic 10Be dating
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Evans S
(2009)
A re-examination of the mechanism and human impact of catastrophic mass flows originating on Nevado Huascarán, Cordillera Blanca, Peru in 1962 and 1970
in Engineering Geology
Goethals M
(2009)
An improved experimental determination of cosmogenic 10Be/21Ne and 26Al/21Ne production ratios in quartz
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Vincent P
(2010)
Cosmogenic isotope (36Cl) surface exposure dating of the Norber erratics, Yorkshire Dales: Further constraints on the timing of the LGM deglaciation in Britain
in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association
Wilcken K
(2010)
Improved 36Cl AMS at 5MV
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Vermeesch P
(2010)
Sand residence times of one million years in the Namib Sand Sea from cosmogenic nuclides
in Nature Geoscience
Xu S
(2010)
Improved 10Be and 26Al-AMS with a 5MV spectrometer
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Roberts D
(2010)
Ice stream influence on West Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum ICE STREAM INFLUENCE ON W GREENLAND ICE SHEET DYNAMICS DURING THE LGM
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Kretschmer S
(2011)
Fractionation of 230Th, 231Pa, and 10Be induced by particle size and composition within an opal-rich sediment of the Atlantic Southern Ocean
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Rodés Á
(2011)
Effect of density uncertainties in cosmogenic 10Be depth-profiles: Dating a cemented Pleistocene alluvial fan (Carboneras Fault, SE Iberia)
in Quaternary Geochronology
Hughes P
(2011)
Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology - A Closer Look
Jansen J
(2011)
Does decreasing paraglacial sediment supply slow knickpoint retreat?
in Geology
Fenton C
(2011)
Regional 10Be production rate calibration for the past 12ka deduced from the radiocarbon-dated Grøtlandsura and Russenes rock avalanches at 69° N, Norway
in Quaternary Geochronology
Glasser N
(2012)
10Be and 26Al exposure-age dating of bedrock surfaces on the Aran ridge, Wales: evidence for a thick Welsh Ice Cap at the Last Glacial Maximum
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Gheorghiu D
(2012)
Lateglacial surface exposure dating in the Monadhliath Mountains, Central Highlands, Scotland
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Ely L
(2012)
Owyhee River intracanyon lava flows: Does the river give a dam?
in Geological Society of America Bulletin
Schnabel C
(2012)
Comparison of 36Cl exposure ages with 10Be ages or expected exposure ages based on other evidence - implications for 36Cl exposure dating
in Quaternary International
Fabel D
(2012)
Trimlines, blockfields, mountain-top erratics and the vertical dimensions of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet in NW Scotland
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Houmark-Nielsen M
(2012)
Cosmogenic surface exposure dating the last deglaciation in Denmark: Discrepancies with independent age constraints suggest delayed periglacial landform stabilisation
in Quaternary Geochronology
Hodgson D
(2012)
Glacial geomorphology and cosmogenic 10 Be and 26 Al exposure ages in the northern Dufek Massif, Weddell Sea embayment, Antarctica
in Antarctic Science
Rolfe C
(2012)
Paired 26Al and 10Be exposure ages from Lundy: new evidence for the extent and timing of Devensian glaciation in the southern British Isles
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Glasser N
(2012)
Younger Dryas and early Holocene age glacier advances in Patagonia
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Philip Hughes (Author)
(2012)
Two Younger Dryas glacier phases in the English Lake District: geomorphological evidence and preliminary 10Be exposure ages
in North West Geography
Boex J
(2013)
Rapid thinning of the Late Pleistocene Patagonian Ice Sheet followed migration of the Southern Westerlies.
in Scientific reports
BALLANTYNE C
(2013)
Deglaciation chronology of the Galloway Hills Ice Centre, southwest Scotland DEGLACIATION CHRONOLOGY, SOUTHWEST SCOTLAND
in Journal of Quaternary Science
Wilcken K
(2013)
36Cl accelerator mass spectrometry with a bespoke instrument
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
BALLANTYNE C
(2013)
Lateglacial rock slope failures in north-west Ireland: age, causes and implications
in Journal of Quaternary Science
| Description | Geodiversity |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/safeguarding-geodiversity/protecting/cosmogenic-da... |
| Description | 4th Nordic Workshop on Cosmogenic Nuclides |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Bi-annual conference. Presentation led to new application for funding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | AMS14, Ottawa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.ams.uottawa.ca/AMS14/ |
| Description | Bezerra, European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018 Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Carracedo CRPG 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Carracedo, A., Rodés, Á., Stuart, F. and Smellie, J. (2016) Understanding complex exposure history of Mount Hampton, West Antarctica using cosmogenic 3He, 21Ne and 10Be in olivine. Developments In Noble Gas Understanding and Expertise (DINGUE-4). 13th to 15th April 2016, Le Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques (CRPG), Nancy, France |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Carracedo EGU2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Carracedo, A., Rodés, Á., Stuart, F. and Smellie, J. (2016) Understanding complex exposure history of Mount Hampton, West Antarctica using cosmogenic 3He, 21Ne and 10Be in olivine. EGU Abstract 17178. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 18, EGU General Assembly 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Davies - European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018 Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Dyke EGU2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dyke, L. M., Hughes, A. L. C., Andresen, C. S., Murray, T., Hiemstra, J. F., and Rodés, Á. (2016) Investigating the dynamics of deglaciation in coastal areas of southeast Greenland. EGU Abstract 16874. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 18, EGU General Assembly 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Evans, EGU 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Evans, D., Quinton, J., Tye, A., Davies, J., Mudd, S., Rodes, A. (2019) Ground-making research: the first UK arable soil formation rates. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 21, EGU2019-1837, 2019 EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Garcia et al. 2018) Quaternary Geomorphology, Argentina |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | García, J., Hein, A., Luethgens, C., Rodes, A., Vega, R., Binnie, S., Gómez Szmulewicz, G. (2018) El último máximo glacial local en los Andes Patagónicos: inferencias a partir de nuevas cronologías glaciales de 10Be y OSL. Séptimo Congreso Argentino De Cuaternario Y Geomorfología. Puerto Madryn 2018, Argentina. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Geological Society of Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation titled: Extremely rare isotope metrology at SUERC The talk aimed at explaining how isotopic ratios that are fundamental to many earth science applications are made using accelerator mass spectrometry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | McHenry CANQUA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | McHenry, M., Dunlop, P., Batterson, M., Bell, T., Catto, N., Gheorghiu, D.M., Wilson, P. (2015) Palaeo-ice sheet reconstruction of the former Newfoundland Ice Sheet, using the glacial landform record and cosmogenic exposure dating. A-1043. CANQUA 2015 Biennial Conference, August 16-19, St. Johns Newfoundland, Canada. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | McHenry CANQUA 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | McHenry, M., Dunlop, P., Batterson, M., Bell, T., Catto, N., Gheorghiu, D.M., Wilson, P. (2015) Palaeo-ice sheet reconstruction of the last Newfoundland Ice Sheet, using a glacial geological inversion approach and cosmogenic exposure dating. IIC-2001. CANQUA 2015 Biennial Conference, August 16-19, St. Johns Newfoundland, Canada. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | McHenry INQUA 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | • McHenry, M., Dunlop, P., Batterson, M., Bell, T., Catto, N., Gheorghiu, D.M., Wilson, P. (2015) Palaeoglaciology of the Newfoundland Ice Complex, Canada, reconstructed using the glacial geomorphological record and cosmogenic isotope surface exposure dating. P17-P01. XIX INQUA Congress. 26 July - 2 August, 2015, Nagoya, Japan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | McHenry INQUA 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | McHenry, M., Dunlop, P., Batterson, M., Bell, T., Catto, N., Gheorghiu, D.M., Wilson, P. (2015) The Newfoundland Ice Sheet, Canada, reconstructed using a glacial geological inversion approach and cosmogenic exposure dating. T12-P19. XIX INQUA Congress. 26 July - 2 August, 2015, Nagoya, Japan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Mendelova - EGU2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Mendelova, M., Hein, A., Rodes, A., Xu, S. (2019) Early mountain glaciation and build-up of the last Patagonian Ice Sheet. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 21, EGU2019-17059, 2019 EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Mendelova, European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018 Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Modestou - Goldschmidt 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Modestou EGU2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Sevasti Modestou, Marcus Gutjahr, Jan Fietzke, Ángel Rodés, Martin Frank, Susana Bolhão Muiños, Rob Ellam, and Rachel Flecker (2014) Evidence of a connection between the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the Messinian Salinity Crisis from Pb and Nd isotopes. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 16, EGU2014-15527, 2014. EGU General Assembly 2014 (CIAF/9043/1007) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Modestou Goldschmidt 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | S. Modestou, M. Gutjahr, J. Fietzke, A. Rodés, M. van der Schee, M. Frank, S. Bolhão Muiños, R. Ellam, R. Flecker (2015) Precessional variation in seawater-derived Late Miocene Pb isotopes. 2015 Goldschmidt Conference. 16 - 21 August 2015. Prague, Czech Republic (CIAF/9043/1007) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Roberts EGU2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | David Roberts, Tim Lane, Brice Rea, Colm O Cofaigh, Stewart Jamieson, Andreas Vieli and Angel Rodes (2015) New insights into West Greenland ice sheet/stream dynamics during the last glacial cycle. Geophysical Research Abstracts. Vol. 17, EGU2015-3528, 2015. EGU General Assembly 2015 (CIAF/9106/0411) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Roda-Boluda EGU2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Roda-Boluda, D., D'Arcy, M. , Whittaker, A., Allen, P., Gheorghiu, D. and Rodés, Á. (2016) Erosional flux from tectonically active landscapes: Case studies from Southern Italy. EGU Abstract 557. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 18, EGU General Assembly 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Rodés Nordic Workshop 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ángel Rodés, Theodoros Karampaglidis, Alfonso Benito-Calvo and Finlay M Stuart (2014) Re-exhumed sediment dating using cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al and 21Ne. Nordic workshop on Cosmogenic Nuclide Dating. Aarhus (Denmark), 11-13 June, 2014 (CIAF/In-house) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |