Earth Surface Systems Lab
Located in the Murphy Bunker of the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, the lab was renovated and opened in 2017.
Sediment sample collection
To survey and collect sediment samples and cores in the field, we have a range of tools, including: gouge auger, vibracore system, Livingston corer, StrataBox Chirp profiler, Phantom drone
Sediment core processing
In the lab, sediment cores are split, described, wrapped, and kept in cold storage.
Sediment composition
The lab has the essential tools for describing sediment composition: a drying oven, muffle furance, and sieves of various sizes.
Sediment texture
We use a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 Hydro LV (“MAL”) to precisely measure particle size distributions of sediments.
Gamma spectroscopy
Our Canberra BEGe detector (“EMMETT”) is used to measure 210Pb, 137Cs, and 7Be activity on sediments. These isotopes allow us to constrain sediment ages and sedimentation rates for the last ~150 years.
Radiometric dating
We regularly develop chronologies from 210Pb, 137Cs and 7Be activities measured on our BEGe; if you are interested in using these isotopes to date a profile, please contact us.