NC S&F In-situ 14C Facility

Cosmogenic in-situ 14C refers to the carbon-14 that is formed by cosmic ray interaction within the crystal lattice of surface materials.

In-situ 14C allows researchers to measure processes that have occurred in the era of human civilisations, giving us unprecedented ability to measure rates of change prior to, and since, human impacts.

Understanding natural processes at these timescales, and the impacts on them of human activity, has immediate and important applications in diverse NERC science fields such as: hazards and risk, soil production and erosion, agricultural development, archaeology, coastal change, glacial and fluvial processes, and tectonic evolution of mountain ranges.

In response to UK community demand we propose to develop a new cutting-edge national laboratory to facilitate in situ 14C dating.

Specifically, we will deliver the following scientific capability: Sample preparation for separating quartz for 'in-situ 14C' analyses. A single automated, bespoke extraction line for high-throughput extraction of carbon dioxide from mineral samples. Preparation of accelerator mass spectrometry targets for high-precision, low-concentration analyses.

This new capability will allow UK researchers to address critical questions about the future of our planet that previously could not be addressed.