LEO Isotope Hydrogeology Station - Establishment and Operation

The LEO Isotope Hydrogeology Station, to be launched in the Fall 2001, will undertake both monitoring and case studies (both hydrologic and geologic) of Earth's hydrosphere. In this first running, the focus will be on initial sampling of Lehigh Valley precipitation to be analyzed for oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions as part of our involvement in GNIP (the Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation; see http://www.iaea.org/programs/ri/gnip/gnipmain.htm). The GNIP database is used for a variety of purposes in the fields of hydrology, oceanography and hydrometeorology, and in investigations related to Earth's water cycle and climate changes. During the Fall 2001 semester, we will establish the protocol for sampling local precipitation, storing and analyzing the water samples, and archiving (at least in part on a web page) and reporting the isotopic results (both to GNIP and the general community). Interns involved in Fall 2001, will first be given some background material on the water cycle and isotopic tracing of water budgets (in the form of several lecturette/discussion periods), and will begin getting some exposure to the stable isotope chemistry lab (Williams Hall, room 116) and performing some water oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses. Those involved will be familiarized with the GNIP endeavor and and the ways in which LEO can participate in GNIP. Later in the semester, the group will identify and undertake tasks specific to the precipitation monitoring, for example, water sampling and isotopic analyses, and related data archiving and web page management.

Interns for the Fall 2001 semester would benefit from having taken a basic-level chemistry course. However, this is not a requirement and experience in the EES Tier 1 courses (either one or both of EES 21 or EES 31) would be sufficient (co-enrollment in a Tier 1 course during the spring semester is also OK). No car is required, but some small amounts of fieldwork will be involved (roof of Williams Hall, one-day driving trip to Lake Lacawac).

If you are interested and/or have questions related to this project, please contact Gray Bebout (geb0@lehigh.edu).