A photo of the OSU Ice Core Lab, complete with many different analytical instruments.

We maintain a range of laboratory facilities for measuring gases and other properties of ice core samples, including:

  • Gas chromatographs and associated vacuum lines for measuring methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in ice core samples.

  • Two mass spectrometers and associated vacuum lines for measuring the isotopic composition methane, carbon dioxide and methane in ice cores.

  • A new vacuum line for noble gas measurements, with mass spectrometer housed in the OSU Stable Isotope Collaboratory.

  • A continuous flow laboratory for ice cores, currently part of COLDEX, including two laser spectrometer for methane analysis, a particle counter, and a water isotope laser spectrometer (in collaboration with the IsoLab at the University of Washington.

  • Two walk-in freezers for ice storage and processing, field equipment, and a wide range of tools, spare parts, and ancillary equipment.