Facilities

Research and teaching facilities here are among the most advanced in the nation. There are 42 Sun/UNIX workstations and over 100 additional computers running either Windows, MacOS, Linux for the research and teaching programs. These computers provide access to real-time atmospheric observations from around the world including satellite, radar, surface, upper-air, model forecast and lightning detection data. A Network Appliance FAS 3020 and FAS 2040 (Dual controllers each, 80 TB usable capacity, dual parity protected raid arrays) provides our primary storage needs. The Unix computers run interactive software for display and manipulation of this data. The department also has access to the supercomputing facilities of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado for use in research projects of truly intense computational nature. The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences computational facilities are maintained and supported by two full time systems administrators who both have backgrounds, and graduate degrees, in Atmospheric Sciences.

The department's state of the art Weather Map Room provides convenient access to the data, and facilitates both formal and informal discussions. The department also has a computational server that is capable of running atmospheric simulations, programs and software for support of research and instruction. These facilites are available to both graduate and undergraduate students who are participating in either course work, research or forecasting.

In addition to excellent on-campus research laboratories and computer facilities, we operate several field stations. One such station, operated by ASRC, is atop Whiteface Mountain just north of Lake Placid, NY. This facility provides long-term observation of atmospheric chemical species, cloud properties, acid precipitation, aerosol content and other environmental parameters used in various ongoing investigations. An atmospheric observatory (Mohawk Tower) is available on campus for use in research projects undertaken by ASRC scientists, DAES faculty and students. This observatory, which recently has been extensively refurbished, commands a 360 deg view of the surrounding area from the 23rd floor of Indian Quad dormitory.

Laboratory facilities include the Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (SIRMS) Laboratory, located in ES-350, which is used for both research and teaching. It was established in 1996 with funds from an NSF grant and matching funds from the University. Some infrastructure modifications were made and additional equipment purchased with funds from the Research Foundation. It contains an Isoprime Optima gas-source triple-collector mass spectrometer equipped with a dual inlet. The mass spectrometer is interfaced with a MultiPrep automated sample preparation device and a Carlo Erba NA 1500 Series II NC elemental analyzer. Other integral instrumentation includes an FTS Systems immersion cooler, a Peak Scientific oil-lubricated compressor, and a Powerware 9170+ single-phase uninterruptible power supply, as well as a drying oven, microbalance, and assorted glassware.

The Fluid Inclusion Laboratory, also located in ES-350, was established in 2001 with equipment acquired on long-term loan from the Department of Geology at the University of Vermont. It contains a Fluid Inc. heating/freezing stage, a Nikon Optiphot binocular transmitted light microscope, a Doric Trendicator 410A digital temperature readout, a Javelin JE3362 TV camera, and a Sony PVM-1390 color video monitor.

The Geochemistry Laboratory, located in ES-342, is also used for both research and teaching. It was renovated in 1999 by faculty and students, with funds from an NSF CCLI grant which included matching funds from the Department and the University. It contains Dionex DX-120 and ICS-90 ion chromatographs and an AS-40 autosampler, as well as two fume hoods, glassware, drying ovens, balances, and other standard equipment.

The ICP-AES Laboratory, located in ES-344, was renovated, again by students and faculty, in 2006 and houses a Thermo Jarrell Ash Atomscan 16 inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer with autosampler, donated to the Department by the USGS.

The optical microscopy laboratory (ES-309) contains 10 Olympus polarizing microscopes for teaching and research in petrography. We also have an extensive collection of rock and mineral samples, thin sections, and crystallographic models located in ES-237 and ES-309. This collection is used primarily for teaching.

The rock sample preparation laboratory, located in the ES-B09, contains various pieces of equipment for crushing, grinding, and pulverizing rock, soil, and sediment samples. The rock saw and thin section preparation laboratories (ES-B08) contain several rock saws of various sizes, as well as polishing equipment.