Geo-thermometers based on laser absorption spectroscopy

This project will investigate an ultra sensitive laser spectroscopy technique to study the isotopic geochemistry of carbon dioxide and methane, as a geo-thermometer for the temperature at which these gases were formed. The aim is to develop field deployable instruments capable of differentiating formation temperatures of 10's of Kelvin, by measuring the presence of rare isotopolgues. These serve as fingerprints of their formation temperature to yield valuable information about whether the hydrocarbons were generated by ancient microbes or rock chemistry, which is of great interest to the oil and gas industry. They also provide clues to how fast permafrost is thawing at the polar caps, to help answer important questions of climate change.